RESULTS | Bearcat Classic complete results
 
Ninety-Six, S.C.----The No. 16 Wingate men's golf team won the Bearcat Classic Tuesday, posting a 17-under-par 847 to defeat No. 5 Grand Valley State by four strokes, securing back-to-back tournament victories for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Graduate student Jordan Hyland fired a program-record (tying) score of 11-under-par 205 to take home medalist honors by two shots over Lander's Aaron Lin.
 
The Lander University Bearcats hosted this event on the Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor layout. On Tuesday, the competitors finished round two after Monday's frost delay caused play disruptions. Afterwards, the student-athletes wrapped things up with the third and final round.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head men's golf coach JD Lamm
 
"The team has put in a lot of time and effort into their games and we are starting to see the benefits. It is great to get the victory these past two tournaments and proves we are headed in the direction we want after an ideal start to the spring season. The boys need to keep their heads down and stay motivated as we move onto our home tournament before a strong field in Tennessee and then post-season play."
 
Wingate graduate student-athlete Jordan Hyland
 
"I'm delighted to continue our run of good form with a win this week at the Bearcat Classic. It was an amazing experience getting my first win at Wingate. I am extremely grateful for Coach JD Lamm and Coach Brian Murtagh. My teammates are the best…it feels like we have found a new gear. I'm very excited to see what the rest of the season holds."
 
Round two quick hits
 
- The 'Dogs fired a tournament-low round of 12-under-par 276
- No. 16 Wingate stretched its advantage to 10 shots over No. 5 Grand Valley State
- Freshman Brandon Skidmore fired the low round of his young Bulldog career
- Skidmore posted a tourney-low (tying) six-under-par 66 with seven birdies
- Jordan Hyland shot a five-under-par 67 to stretch his lead to four strokes
- The '24 CSC Academic All-America had five birdies and an eagle (par five eighth hole)
- Junior Lewis Beeden finished his round birdie, birdie for a one-under-par 71
- Junior Alfie Storer closed out the team score with an even-par 72 and four birdies
 
Round three quick hits
 
- Wingate fought off strong charges from both No. 5 GVSU and No. 11 USC Aiken
- The 'Dogs held off the Lakers and the Pacers with their four-under-par 284
- GVSU shot a 10-under-par 278 in the final round, while USCA posted a nine-under-par 279
- Neither score was enough to catch the South Atlantic Conference member Bulldogs
- Playing with the lead, Hyland closed out the tourney in fine fashion
- He raced to a front nine five-under-par 31 and opened up a six-shot advantage
- Hyland was steady on the back nine with lots of pars on the tougher side
- He would finish the round with a team-best, three-under-par 69
- Hyland's two-stroke triumph is the first of his Wingate University career
- The graduate transfer won five times at Davis & Elkins (W.Va.) as an undergrad
- Hyland is a staggering 21-under par for his last six rounds
- He set a new program mark with his 10-under-par 200 at last week's Spring Bulldog Clash
- This week, Hyland tied the WU standard for low score with his 11-under-par total
- Skidmore and Beeden both closed the event with two-under-par 70s
- Skidmore had five birdies, while Beeden recorded three birdies
- Skidmore tied for third place, while Beeden rallied to tie for 21st place
- Storer rounded out the team score with his five-over-par 75, carding two birdies
- Freshman Max Drott played as an individual, firing rounds of 73-74-76
- Drott was competing in only his second intercollegiate tournament
 
Next on the agenda for No. 16 Wingate men's golf
 
The Bulldogs have a well-deserved off weekend on the horizon. They will return to action for the 25th annual Ralph Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate March 17-18 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe. Wingate will play 36 holes on its home course Monday, March 17, followed by 18 holes Tuesday, March 18 to complete the 54-hole event.
 
(Editor's note: Wingate University graduate student Sean Addie contributed this article. The '23 Davis & Elkins graduate is a second-year MBA student at Wingate.)