Coming off of a second-place finish and individual win at the Coca-Cola Wofford Invitational, the Elon University men’s golf team fell flat with a ninth place finish out of ten teams at the Southern Conference Tournament in Pinehurst, N.C. April 20-22.
Junior Will DiIanni led the Phoenix by tying for 15th place out of 50 golfers. He shot a three-round score of 222 with rounds of 73, 75 and 74. DiIanni shot nine birdies over the course of the three-day tournament at the National Golf Club in Pinehurst.
Senior John Somers followed with a 225, placing him in a tie for 24th place. His rounds included a first-round 78, followed by a 74 and a 73. In a tie for 41st place was senior Stuart Kaufman, who shot 233. Kaufman shot a second-round 70 sandwiched between an 81 and 82 in his first and third rounds, respectively.
A pair of Phoenix golfers tied for 47th place with scores of 242. Sophomore Troy Beaver shot 84, 78 and 80 in his three rounds, while sophomore Jonathan DiIanni shot a first round 88, but recovered slightly with a 75 and 79 in his later rounds.
In total, Elon’s final three-round score was a 916, with round scores of 316, 294 and 306. Only Samford University finished behind the Phoenix with a score of 925. Georgia Southern University won the tournament with a score of 873. The Eagles had rounds of 296, 284 and 293.
The individual champion was Western Carolina University junior J.T. Poston, who shot a 206 over his three rounds with scores of 68, 66 and 72.