Cole, Dukes Take Home Titles at Camden Collegiate Invite

Saturday, October 22

Camden CC | Camden, S.C.

James Madison University

Camden Collegiate Classic

Cole, Dukes Take Home Titles at Camden Collegiate Invite

10/23/2016 6:38:00 PM | Men's Golf

@JMUMGolf 2016-17 Schedule 2016-17 Statistics Final Results

CAMDEN, S.C. - Senior Ryan Cole fired a final-round 4-under 66 and won a one-hole playoff to lead the James Madison men's golf team to its first team title of the season at the Camden Collegiate Invitational on Sunday at the par-70, 6,455-yard Camden Country Club.

The Dukes, who started the day four strokes behind first-place South Carolina at the 14-team event, fired an even-par 280--the second-lowest round of any team all weekend--to overtake the Gamecocks by nine strokes and take home their first victory (282-288-280=850) since the Bash at the Beach Invitational on March 7-8, 2016.

Cole staged an even larger comeback, using his third-lowest round to-par this season to make a charge from six strokes back and tie South Carolina's Kennan Huskey at 5-under 205 through 54 holes. The pair went to a sudden-death playoff, which Cole won on the first hole after tapping in a six-foot birdie putt.

The victory over the 75-player field marked Cole's first win, third top-five and fifth top-10 of the season. Cole also finished tied for first at the Janney VCU Shootout earlier this season, but fell on the sixth hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Sophomore Alex Henderson continued his weekend of stellar play, earning the first top-five finish of his sophomore season and the third of his career. Henderson carded a 2-over 72 on Sunday, closing the tournament alone in third place at 1-under 209.

Fellow sophomore Shota Ozaki dropped five strokes from his second-round score, posting an even-par 70 to finish tied for 10th, his second top-10 of the season, while freshman Quinn Tardif fired his best round of the weekend--a 2-over 72--to move up nine spots and finish tied for 25th.

Junior Jack Floydd closed out the JMU team competitors in a tie for 56th (74-79-78=231). Playing as an individual, freshman Walker Cress continued to impress in his first collegiate tournament, carding a 5-over 75 on Sunday to finish tied for 21st.

QUOTING COACH FORBES
"This was a great win against some really good teams on a difficult course and set-up. Congratulations to Ryan for a great final round to come back and win the tournament."

TWEET OF THE ROUND

@Ryan_Cole4 for the win! Nothing but the bottom of the cup! #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/SVuEzuioil
— JMU Men's Golf (@JMUMGolf) October 23, 2016

UP NEXT
The Dukes' win this weekend closed out their fall season, which saw them post four top-fives as a team in just five tournaments. JMU will open its spring season, consisting of five tournaments prior to the Colonial Athletic Association Championships and possibly post-season play, with the Tiger Invitational, hosted by Auburn in Opelika, Ala. from Sun. March 5-Tues. March 7.