Sunday, March 5, 2006

PIONEERS SHOOT RECORD 579 TO WIN TUSCULUM INVITATIONAL

"Kinzer Shoots Final Round 68, Claims Medalist Honors on Scorecard Playoff"

Team Results | Individual Results | Combined Results

2006 Tusculum Men's Golf Invitational Champions
(left-right) Luke Miller, Chase Carroll, Sasha Catron, Chris Wynne, Nick Kinzer, Head Coach Bob Dibble

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- For the first time since 1998 and the fourth time in school history the Pioneers won its home tournament as the Tusculum College Orange team captured the 2006 TC Men's Golf Invitational title in record fashion. The TC Orange squad fired a two-day score of 579, including Sunday's final round 292. The 579 tally breaks the previous record of 585, posted by Johnson & Wales University in 2003.

TC Orange was led by senior Nick Kinzer, as he fired a three-under par 68 to finish at 141, tied with teammate Chris Wynne who carded 66-75=141. Due to darkness, medalist honors was decided by a scorecard playoff with Kinzer coming out on top by virtue of his birdie on the first hole. Wynne had a chance to win the medalist trophy on the last hole, but his 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole drifted just off target.

Tusculum Orange had to hold off a furious second-day rally by USC Upstate as the Spartans posted a tournament low round of 285 to post 587, eight shots behind the Pioneers. B.J. Humphries and Baxter Culler led the Upstate charge finishing third and fifth, respectively to secure spots on the All-Tournament team. Humphries posted back-to-back rounds of 71-71=142, while Culler carded a 70 to shoot 145 for the weekend.

Freshman Dallas Bassen of the Tusculum Black squad carded the low round of the day with his 67 to shoot 143 to finish third and earn All-Tournament recognition.

Tusculum's Chris Wynne (left) and Nick Kinzer each shot tournament bests 141 at the Tusculum Invitational. Kinzer claimed medalist honors.

Senior Andy Arp posted a career round in his final home event as he posted a career-low 70 to post 146 and tie for sixth place with Austin Ornelas of Brevard College. There was a three-way tie for eighth place at 148, including Craig Reasor of Lincoln Memorial University, USC Upstate's Jamie Lightsey and Lucas Tabor of Walters State College.

Brevard finished in third place with 606, followed by TC Black in fourth with 607. Georgia Southwestern University placed fifth with 608, followed by Mars Hill College (611), Walters State (613), Lincoln Memorial (614), Wingate University B (616), Tri-County Technical College (616), Spartanburg Methodist College (619), Tusculum White (624), University of Virginia's College at Wise (636), Bluefield College (636) and Marian College (639).

Play on Sunday was one of the best in a final round in the 13-year history of the Tusculum Invitational. Eight players shot par or better in the second round, including five under par.

The 141 posted by Kinzer and Wynne were just one shot off the tournament record (140) posted by Lee University's Matt Robertson in 2003. Wynne established a tournament record with his opening round 66 on Saturday.

- TC -

2006 Tusculum Invitational All-Tournament Team
Chris Wynne (Tusculum), Nick Kinzer - Medalist (Tusculum), Dallas Bassen (Tusculum), Baxter Culler (USC Upstate), B.J. Humphries (USC Upstate)