Charlotte golf finishes 4th

The Charlotte 49ers golf team has gotten off to another strong start to being the season. The Niners, who have made the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive years, took s fourth place finish at the Gopher Invitational in Wayzata, Minn.

Held at the prestigious Spring Hill Golf Club, the Niners finished the tournament with a three-day total of +26, 890. Paul Ferrier, now in his junior campaign, led the way for the Niners. The Edinburg, Scotland native compiled a three-round total of 2-over-par, 218 to place in sixth place individually. It was Ferrier’s first top-10 finish since he placed fifth at the 2009 A-10 Championship Tournament.

“Arguably the best tournament of his career,” 49er head golf coach Adam Pry said on Ferrier’s performance. “The fifth at conference was certainly good but he just played fantastic up there. It’s a testament to what he’s been working on over the last year.”

Ferrier shot a 4-over-par 76 in the final round while another junior—Olafur Loftsson—fired a team-best score of 1-over-par 73. Loftsson finished the tournament in a tie for 21st place at 9-over-par, 225. Alongside Loftsson in 21st were Will Golden and Nebraska State Amateur Champion Andy Sajevic.

“I wouldn’t say any of them felt great about the way they played but they really competed hard,” Pry said. “You’re not always going to have your best game—like Paul did—but as long as you go out there and you compete hard, make good decisions and fight from the first hole to the last, that’s all you can ask for.”

Charlotte’s three-day total of +26, 890 was just one stroke behind third-place Arkansas and two strokes ahead of fifth-place finisher Lamar (+28, 892). LSU took home the tournament title with a three-round total of +5, 869, 11 strokes clear of second-place finisher Kent State (+16, 880).

Ferrier strung together rounds of 72-70-76 for his 54-hole total. The second round of 2-under-par was the lowest score of his collegiate career.

Loftsson rebounded with his third-round 73 after stumbling out of the gate with back-to-back rounds of 76. Sajevic played consistent golf on day one, stringing together two rounds of 2-over-par 74, but faltered with a final round 77.

Golden, the only senior on Charlotte’s 2010-11 roster, shot a final round 76 after rounds of 72-77 on day one. Junior Tyler Mitchell rounded out the Charlotte scoring with a three round total of +18, 234.

Charlotte returns to action at the VCU Shootout in Richmond, Va. on Sept. 27-28. Charlotte all-American Corey Nagy won the event last year as a senior while the Niners placed ninth place out of 14 teams.

“As we always do here, we’ll re-qualify so none of the guys are exempt into the next one (tournament),” Pry said. “I think we’re definitely a deeper team this year. We’re probably as deep as we’ve been in three years. I think we’ve got some guys at home that are chomping at the bit.”