Gardner-Webb University
Big South Championship
Blanchette Places Fourth Overall As GWU Finishes Sixth at Big South Men's Golf Championship
April 21, 2015 | Men's Golf
NINETY SIX S.C.- Gardner-Webb sophomore Vincent Blanchette continued his strong play finishing fourth overall aiding GWU to a sixth-place team finish at the Big South Men's Golf Championship in Ninety Six, S.C. at the scenic Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor.
The Runnin' Bulldogs shot a 298 over their final round of play at the Championship, coupling their final round with early rounds of 283 and 289 to finish with a total of 870, +6, five shots back of 5th-place Liberty.
Head Coach Tee Burton had this to say about today's final round, "We played very well at times throughout the day, but overall we did not make enough putts to keep us in contention with the teams who were ahead of us."
Blanchette who was within reach of the top of the leaderboard all day played tough throughout the round, closing the Championship with a final round score of 71, -1 under par to finish with a total combined score of 210, -6 under par.
Blanchette finished just two strokes off the pace of the winner earning him the sole finish of fourth and a spot on the 2015 All-Championship team. Blanchette led the Championship field with three eagles for the event and tied with three others with the best par 5 scoring average 4.42, -7 under par, over the 54-holes.
Participating in his last round ever as a Runnin' Bulldog lone senior Matt Yelverton finished his collegiate golf career with poise and class. The senior placed in 14th overall shooting a final day 72, even-par, combining his opening rounds of 70 and 74 to finish with a well earned combined total 216, even-par. Yelverton was fourth overall at the Championship in pars made, collecting 40 pars over his 54-holes of play.
Also, at the conclusion of play Yelverton was named the 2015 Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year for his incredible work off the golf course and in the classroom obtaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA over his time at Gardner-Webb.
Finishing in a tie for 27th overall at the Championship was freshman Jake Kennedy who closed out his first Conference tournament with a round of 78, +6, taking his first two round scores of 71 and 72 to finish at 221, +5 over 54-holes of play.
Just behind Kennedy was redshirt sophomore Chris Jones who ended the Championship finishing 30th combing his first two rounds of 74 and 72 with the 77 he carded today totaling up to a 223, +7, ending to his year.
Rounding out the Gardner-Webb lineup was freshman Aaron Thomas who carded rounds of 75, 80 and a final day of 85 to finish in a tie for 48th-place tallying a three-day score of 240, +24.
Charleston Southern took home the top honors at the Championship today shooting a round of 278, -10 under par as a team to adding to rounds of 286 and 289 to finish with a three-round total of 853, -11 under par.
The Buccaneers also took home the top individual honors at the 2015 Big South Men's Golf Championship as R. J. Keur medaled carding rounds of 70, and two 69's to finish his tournament with a score of 208, -8.
6- Gardner Webb- 283, 289 & 298 = 870, +6
4- Vincent Blanchette – 68, 71 & 71 = 210 (-6)
14- Matt Yelverton– 70, 74 & 72 = 216 (E)
T27- Jake Kennedy– 71, 72 & 78 = 221 (+5)
30- Chris Jones –74, 72 & 77 = 223 (+7)
T48- Aaron Thomas – 75, 80 & 85 = 240 (+24)
