MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — Carson-Newman's Fergus Robinson built a two-stroke lead on teammate Zach Young in Monday's first round of the Walters State Fall Golf Classic and shot a two-under 70 (66-70=136) on Tuesday to win the event played at The Country Club.
Young carded a one-under 71 (68-71=139) on Tuesday to finish second. The Eagles placed three other golfers in the top 10 to take the team title with a two-day total of 7-under, 283-286-569. Carson-Newman's Aaron Johns shaved four strokes off his total to finish tied for fourth place with Tusculum's Kyle Engelbert as they both finished with a score of 75-71=146. Rounding out the top 10 for the Eagles were Ethan Rimmer who finished tied for seventh by shooting 74-74=148 and Will Collins who had one of the better rounds compared to Monday's opener as he shot 79-71=150 to place ninth.
Tusculum finished second as a team with a score of 299-299=598. In addition to Engelbert's fourth-place finish, Noah Jones tied for seventh by shooting 74-74=148.
Host school Walters State placed third by shooting three strokes better on Tuesday as they finished with a team score of 303-300=603. Two members of the Senators' team finished in the top 10 as Chad Homan placed third with a score of 71-73=144 and Drew Linkous took five strokes off his first day total to place 10th with a score of 78-73=151. Other Senators finishers included Stephen Owen (77-76=153, T12), Hogan Herring (77-79=156, T17) and Zach Wood (83-78=161, 24th). Three players played as individuals as Peyton Humphreys shot 79-76=155 (T15), Nicholas Thompson shot 78-80=158 (T20) and Ty Sauceman finished with a score of 84-79=163 (25th).
Walters State head coach Brad Hawkins was not happy with the way his team played in Monday's first round, but was glad to see Linkous and Wood cut five strokes off their performance on Tuesday to move higher in the final standings.
"Drew shot one over today and both he and Zach played better today," Hawkins said. "We still have a lot of room for improvement and it's a long season so we haven't reached our stride yet. That will happen towards the end so we are in good shape for right now."
The Senators only returned two golfers from last year's national runner-up team and Hawkins said he is trying to instruct his young team about the ins and outs of playing at the collegiate level. "We are trying to teach our guys a little bit about what college golf is like. It's not even all about the golf, it's about time management and things like that they are having to juggle right now so it is a life-learning process at the moment."
Rounding out the team scores were Tusculum's B-team at 308-302-610 and Roane State 318-332-650.
The Senators wrap up the Fall portion of their schedule on Oct. 21 and 22 as they take part in the Berry College Tournament at the Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, Ga.