Wingate junior Brian Denton (Wendell, N.C.) earned medalist honors as the Bulldog men’s golf team won its third title of the year at the Carolina Sands Intercollegiate, hosted by UNC Pembroke at the Carolina Sands Golf Club (par 72, 6931 yards). The Bulldogs shot 277-279 for a two-day total of 556, nine strokes better than the second-place UNCP Braves.
Denton defeated senior teammate Clifford Blanquicet (Sanford, N.C.) in a play-off for medalist honors. Both Denton (69-68) and Blanquicet (67-70) finished the rain-shortened, 36-hole event at 137. Denton made a par on the third play-off hole to take the victory. Denton had 10 birdies at Carolina Sands, while Blanquicet had nine. Denton leads the Bulldogs with five all-tournament team laurels this year.
The Bulldogs set a new Carolina Sands Intercollegiate 36-hole record. In addition, the 556 score is the second best two-round total in South Atlantic Conference men’s golf history. Wingate’s three 2011-12 titles is an NCAA-era record for a season. Also, the Bulldogs have three second-place finishes, one third-place showing and one fourth-place finish this year.
The Carolina Sands Intercollegiate concludes 2011-12 regular season competition for the Bulldogs. Wingate will prepare for the 2012 Food Lion SAC tournament April 16-17 in Conover, N.C. Lenoir-Rhyne hosts this year’s event at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa.
Wingate has three team victories during the 2011-12 men’s golf season: Honda of Columbia Fall Classic (Sept. 17), Lenoir-Rhyne/Myrtle Beach Intercollegiate (Oct. 3-4) and Carolina Sands (March 31-April 1). Three different Bulldogs have earned medalist laurels this year: Denton, Blanquicet (Pinehurst Challenge, March 24-25) and freshman Antoine Le Saux (Tusculum Invitational, March 10-11).
