VIDEO: Randy Wylie Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Coming off the heels of a top-5 finish at the Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate nearly two weeks ago, the Carson-Newman men's golf team makes a trip back to Florida, this time heading to the Lake Jovita Country Club in Dade City for the Saint Leo Invitational.
C-N's fourth-place finish to open the spring slate was the third consecutive top-five finish of the season. Tom Forster (Oundle, England) and Jake Headrick (Maryville, Tenn.) were named to the All-Tournament team at the Intercollegiate.
"Our one and two men who are both really good experienced players both had just good, solid finishes," head coach Randy Wylie said. "We just need to be a little bit better in that three through five area.
"We just need a better overall team effort and have all five guys doing more to help the team."
This will mark the Eagles' third-consecutive appearance in the event that once used to be held in the fall. Last season, the team took a fifth-place finish after a seventh-place showing a season prior.
2016's top-five finish was led by a strong outing from Forster who was three-under par in the event, good enough for a seventh-place finish on the leaderboard. One stroke behind him was Dalton Reese at a tie for eighth while Jake Headrick sat at a tie for ninth, even at par. The trio were the only Eagles who crossed the top-10 in the tournament.
Wylie will utilize the same lineup that he has used for the past two events as Headrick and Forster both make their returns to the Invitational field this season at the No. 1 and 2 spot for the Eagles, respectively.
Alex Hutson (Newport, Tenn.) looks to build off of his +7 showing at the Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate where he finished in a tie for 32nd in the field.
Jackson Tyler (Wilmington, N.C.) had his lowest leaderboard ranking of the season to start the spring, finishing at a tie for 50th in the previous event.
Anthony Marcinelli (Knoxville, Tenn.) faced the most struggles out of all of the Eagles who traveled to the Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate, shooting 12-over for a 53rd-place finish. His third round score of 73 tied his third lowest of the season.
Florida Southern was the top team last season with a -12 total of 852. USC Aiken and Limestone took second and third, respectively.
Taking the top spot of all players in the field was John Coultas of Florida Southern, shooting an eight-under total of 208.
Carson-Newman, now Golfstat's 18-ranked team and Bushnell Golfweek Division II Coaches' poll 20th-ranked team, joins a field that hosts 11 other teams including three other ranked teams, along with host school No. 9 Saint Leo – No. 3 Nova Southeastern, No. 16 Lee and No. 21 Lander, all according to the Coaches' poll.
"Our guys are really comfortable now playing against the top teams in the country," Wylie said. "We've kind of advanced to the stage where that doesn't really bother them or concern them; they know they need to take care of their business.
"I think we're experienced enough that where we can just go down and play our game, and if we just play well and play our game, we should be very competitive and have a chance to beat those teams."
The Invitational opens up on Monday with a 36-hole outing before a single round will be played on Tuesday. Fans are encouraged to follow along with live scoring through Golfstat. A full recap will be available at cneagles.com at the conclusion of each day of competition.
