HARTWELL, Ga. — Marking the best team performance in the program's history, the No. 6 University of North Georgia men's golf team shot 37 strokes under par to win the Cateechee Fall Invitational by 16 strokes, rewriting the North Georgia record books. UNG broke the program record by 15 strokes, a record that was previously broken in their season opener at the Bearcat Fall Kickoff earlier this year.
The Nighthawks put on a clinic on par fours in the event, shooting 13-under-par on those holes, averaging 3.90 strokes, the only team to average under par. North Georgia picked up eight strokes on the third hole alone with the Nighthawks earning three birdies and one eagle with no bogeys in the third round, gaining eight strokes on the hole across the three rounds.
Ethan Day was the top man for UNG, finishing second overall after firing a pair of 65s on the first day, shooting one-under-par in the third round. Day was joined by three other North Georgia golfers in the top ten as each of the four scoring Nighthawks finished the event in the top ten for the first time in program history.
Stephen Kinsel was second for the Nighthawks and third overall, finishing in a tie for third at seven-under-par after bouncing back from a three-over-par finish in the second round. Kinsel's seven-under-par performance in the first round was the catalyst for his third-place finish and helped kickstart the historic run for UNG in the event.
In third for the team and ninth overall was
Noah Zediker, finishing his three rounds at five-under-par after shooting 66 and 67 in the first two rounds and finishing with a four-over-par third round.
Jack Vajda tied for tenth in the event, rolling to a six-under-par final round to finish at four-under-par.
Playing as an individual,
Colby Bennett made a wave of his own, finishing in a tie for 13th after an even-par third round. Bennett's run included a four-under-par second round to finish the tournament at three-under-par.
Hughes Threlkeld and
Hunter Smith rounded out the North Georgia golfers in the event, with Threlkeld finishing in a tie for 32nd and Smith finishing in a tie for 60th. Both golfers battled back in their second and third rounds to wrap up the event for UNG.
Head Coach Bryson Worley
"It's hard not to be proud of such a strong record-setting performance where everyone contributed. Our depth proved to be our strength once again, and we look forward to seeing these guys compete again in Albany."
North Georgia will look to continue their momentum, heading to a familiar place as they will play in the GSW Hurricane Invitational on October 16-17 at the Doublegate Country Club in Albany, Ga., looking to win that event for the third consecutive season.
