The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
2013 Golfweek Program Challenge – Day Three
Men's Golf Comes From Behind to Win Golfweek Program Challenge
September 10 | Men's Golf
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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Down seven strokes entering the final round, The University of Akron men's golf team posted a 3-under 285 – the second-best round of the day – to win the Golfweek Program Challenge by five strokes on Tuesday at the par-72, 6,940-yard layout at True Blue Golf Club.
The win is the 27th in program history and the first since the Zips won the Illini Classic on April 17, 2011. The victory is also the first for third-year head coach David Trainor.
"I love this golf team...they work hard, they push each other and they played great," Trainor said. "From a coaching standpoint, it was fun to watch them go out there and perform they way I know they can."
UA finished the event with a three-day tally of 856 (-8), posting three-straight rounds under par. IUPUI finished in second place (861, -3) with James Madison rounding out the top-three in third place (862, -2).
Akron played solid all week, sitting inside the top-three after each of the first two rounds. James Madison held the lead for the first 36 holes before the Zips made their move on Tuesday.
It didn't take long for UA to catch James Madison as the Zips tied the Dukes at 6-under with players on holes 6-12. At that point, Akron was 1-under on the day and JMU was sitting at 6-over. From there, UA would take the lead by two strokes through 12 holes and would not look back.
Sophomore Carr Vernon, on the heels of a strong showing at last month's U.S. Amateur, spearheaded Akron's climb up the leaderboard with a career-low round of 4-under 68 to finish tied for third place (211, -5).
Freshman J.B. Williams, playing in his first collegiate event, flirted with individual medalist honors, but finished in second place with a 54-hole score of 209 (-7). He closed out the event with a steady round of even-par 72.
Senior Charlie Bull and freshman Zach Gollwitzer moved into the top 20 to end the day, with both finishing in a tie for 20th place (218, +2). Bull posted a round of even-par 72 while Gollwitzer closed out his first collegiate event with a 1-over 73.
Louis Birchall rounded out the scoring-five in a tie for 36th place (223 +7) after his second-consecutive round of 3-over 75.
The Zips finished sixth overall in the Golfweek Program Challenge with a combined score of 1,773 (+57). The women's squad finished in eighth place with a score of 917 (+65). Campbell (1,742, +25) beat Jacksonville State (1,743, +26) for the program title.
Akron will look to make it 2-for-2 this season when it returns to action on Monday, Sept. 23, at the St. Mary's Invitational in Monterey, Calif.
