Senators finish tied for ninth at The Trojan

GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Walters State finished in a tie for ninth place after a 36-hole marathon on Monday at the Trojan, hosted by Mount Olive at Walnut Creek County Club's Black Course.

Tuesday's third round was canceled on Monday night, ending the tournament after 36 holes.

The Senators, ranked eighth in the NJCAA Division II national rankings, shot a team score of 55-over par 631 on the day, opening up with a 318 first round and closing with a 313 in the second round on a cold and windy day on the links.

Newberry was the tournament champion at 588 (304-284), followed by host Mount Olive at 596 (301-295). Cape Fear finished third at 623 (316-307), while Limestone B was fourth at 624 (312-312) and Southern New Hampshire rounded out the top five at 627 (322-305). Bentley was sixth at 628 (318-310), while Concordia  (322-307) and Mount Olive B (318-311) tied for seventh at 629 and Walters State and Barton B (314-317) rounded out the top 10.

Goldey-Beacom was 11th at 668 (346-322), while Chowan was 12th at 674 (349-325) and Bluefield State rounded out the 13-team field at 693 (360-333).

Alex Hodge paced the Senators on the day with an 11-over par total of 155 (76-79) to end the tournament alone in 21st place. Drew Linkous was 10 spots below Hodge in 31st place after posting a 36-hole total of 158 (81-77), while Dane Rheinecker wasn't far behind in a tie for 34th place at 160 (79-81). Stephen Owen ended up tied for 37th at 161 (85-76), while Hunter Blanken wound up in a tie for 49th place at 166 (82-84) in the 72-player field.

Newberry's Ben Thompson was the individual winner at 1-under par 143 (75-68), while Mount Olive's Patrick Schweitz was second at 145 (75-70).

The Senators will return to the links on Monday, April 8, at Hermitage Golf Club outside of Nashville to take part in the Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted by Tennessee State University. The two-day tournament will close the regular season for Walters State.