CNU senior collects third career tournament win

 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Christopher Newport men's golf team won the team title at the Royal Lakes/Oglethorpe Fall Invitational today, while senior Joseph Evans also took home the individual hardware by four strokes. The field included nine nationally ranked teams as CNU took its first win of the 2011-12 season.

The Captains shot 293 in the second and final round, winning the tournament by two strokes. CNU finished at 585 (292-293) ahead of Huntingdon College's +19 with a 587 (300-287).

"I have never been more proud of these young men," said head coach Jamie Coleman. "We set out to win this week from the front, and got it done. Joe [Evans] played like we all expect him to and led the way. I believe this win is the beginning of something very special."

Christopher Newport's Evans didn't just lead the Captains, he also led the entire field individually finishing four-under at 138 (66-72) on the Par 71 course. He won the individual title by four strokes, as the only player under par in the tournament. Emory's Ryan Dagerman finished second at Even Par with a 142 (73-69).

All five CNU players shot 75 or better on the second day and finished tied for 28th or better for the event.

Rookie Tanner Welsh tied Evans for the team-lead on the second day, shooting a 72 and finishing the tournament tied for 10th with a 147 (75-72), at +5. Senior Joseph Suarez was two strokes behind Welsh and tied for 20th with a 149 (74-75).

Junior Brian Jaeger and sophomore Jonathan Howard rounded out the Captains scoring in a tie for 28th, finishing in 152 strokes at 10-over par. Jaeger posted a 78-74, while Howard was at 77-75 for the two-day tournament.

The Captains finished the top team amongst the field of 17, including nine nationally ranked teams and will wrap up the fall season next week at the Tom O'Briant Memorial in Greensboro, N.C.

Royal Lakes/Oglethorpe Fall Invitational Final Results

1 Christopher Newport 292 293 585 +17

2 Huntingdon College 300 287 587 +19

3 Methodist University 302 286 588 +20

4 Greensboro College 297 295 592 +24

5 Emory University 302 293 595 +27

6 California Lutheran 298 303 601 +33

7 Birmingham Southern 299 304 603 +35

8 Oglethorpe Univ. 307 297 604 +36

9 De Pauw University 310 298 608 +40

10 LaGrange College 297 312 609 +41

11 Southwestern Univ. 302 312 614 +46

12 St. Olaf College 310 311 621 +53

13 Rhodes College 312 312 624 +56

14 Maryville College TN 316 311 627 +59

15 Millsaps College 322 310 632 +64

16 Covenant College 331 318 649 +81

17 Piedmont College 337 321 658 +90

1. Christopher Newport 292 293 585 +17

1. Joseph Evans* 66 72 138 -4

T10. Tanner Welsh 75 72 147 +5

T20. Joseph Suarez 74 75 149 +7

T28. Brian Jaeger 78 74 152 +10

T28. Jonathan Howard 77 75 152 +10