Senior duo leads Eagles during final round of South/Southeast Regional

NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional – Final Results

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Seniors Andrew Hall and Jace DeVault concluded their careers in the Orange and Blue by each shooting even par to lead the 15^th-ranked Carson-Newman men's golf team during the final round of the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional at Mission Inn Golf Club & Resort.

Hall (Knoxville, Tenn.) and DeVault (Bluff City, Tenn.) each shot a score of 72 during Wednesday's final round that was started earlier than originally scheduled due to the weather forecast in the Sunshine State. The round began with a shotgun start with the Eagles going off the 12^th hole and beyond.

Carson-Newman moved up a spot on the leaderboard to finish the regional in 12^th position. The Eagles had their best round of the tournament with a six-over 294 turned in during their final round. The team's previous best score had been a 15s-over 303.

"We were led by 72s from Andrew Hall and Jace Devualt; we played a solid round to finish the regional championship," coach Randy Wylie said. "I had three seniors who did a really nice job. Andrew, Jace and Nick Kennedy had nice careers and contributed greatly to Carson-Newman. I am proud of them and proud that as of Friday, they will be Carson-Newman graduates."

Hall led the Eagles for the second consecutive day with even-par 72 to finish the regional at four-over. The senior had a bogey and birdie on the front and back nine to shoot even par. He led the team on the individual leaderboard after tying for 19^th.

Freshman Jake Headrick (Maryville, Tenn.) shot a four-over 76 to finish his regional debut to finish the event tied for 36^th. Headrick bookended his round with bogeys and added a pair more on the fifth and sixth holes for a total of four bogeys and 14 pars. The freshman tied for 36^th.s

DeVault opened his round with three consecutive pars before back-to-back bogeys on the 17^th and 18^th holes pushed him to two-over heading towards the front nine. The senior then pared three straight holes before a birdie on the fourth. He finished the front nine at one-under after a bogey, birdie and three pars. A birdie on the 10^th hole was followed by three pars for the Bluff City, Tenn. native's even-par 72. He finished tied for 36^th at 10-over 226.

Nicklaus Kennedy (London, Ontario, Canada) had an eventful final round, which featured a pair of double-bogeys and three birdies. Kennedy shot one-under during his first seven holes but double-bogeys on the third and seventh holes put the senior at three-over. Starting on the par-four ninth, Kennedy went birdie-bogey-birdie to get his score to two-over. The Canadian tied for 54^th at 13-over 229.

Junior Dalton Reese (Warrenton, Ga.) waited for his last round to card his best score of the tournament at four-over 76. Reese ended his first nine holes at one-over but a stretch of three holes beginning on the par-four seventh pushed the score to three-over. The junior finished the regional tied for 91^st at 22-over 238.

Lynn won the South/Southeast Regional by three strokes over Saint Leo; Florida Southern, West Florida and Barry at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships will join the duo in two weeks as the regional's qualifiers. Nova Southeastern's Richard Mansell and Griffin Brown from Limestone will be the two individuals to advance to the national championships.

To keep updated on the Carson-Newman men's golf team during the offseason, check cneagles.com and follow on Twitter at @cnathletics.

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