Updated as of Oct. 15, 2021 at 5:10 p.m. to include video.
Elon University’s men’s golf team won the sixth annual Phoenix Invitational for its first team victory since March 2020.
The Phoenix Invitational is Elon’s only home tournament of the fall season. It took place at Alamance Country Club in Burlington, the team’s home course.
Elon finished nine strokes ahead of runner-up Appalachian State University. Sophomore Pedro Rabadan tied for first in the individual competition, making a birdie on the par five 17th hole to join the three way tie atop the leaderboard.
Rabadan shot 65 and 66 in the first two rounds Monday to enter the final day with a four shot lead. His composite score of 203 is the lowest of his Elon career.
Sophomore Garrett Risner made six birdies in his final round to shoot 68 and finish in a tie for seventh place, while redshirt senior Will Frodigh posted a final round 71 to also finish tied for seventh.
The Phoenix had 12 players compete in the event, broken into two teams of five players and two individuals whose scores did not go toward either team. The members of Elon’s winning team were Rabadan, Risner, Frodigh and freshmen Juan Callejo and Matt Doyle, who combined for a score of 821.
Former NBA player J.R. Smith made his college golf debut at the event for North Carolina A&T University. The 36-year-old Smith, who spent 17 seasons in the NBA and won two championships, finished 81st out of 84 competitors. His composite score of 240 was better than three players.
Elon was one of 12 schools to compete in the team competition. No other Colonial Athletic Association teams took part in the event. The Phoenix improved its team score from its last event - the Rod Myers Invitational - by almost 100 strokes.
The Phoenix will next compete at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate on Oct. 16 and 17. North Carolina State University will host the event, which will take place at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh.