CofC's Lorenzetti Wins Individual Title, Cougars Third at SoCon Championship
CHARLESTON, SC - Freshman Josh Lorenzetti (pronounced LOR-en-zett-E) became the third College of Charleston golfer to win the Southern Conference Men's Golf Championship and the first freshman in program history to win the tournament, as he helped the CofC men's golf team to a third-place finish at the Daniel Island Club on Tuesday.
Lorenzetti (Columbia, S.C.) shot a 2-under 70 to claim medalist honors and was the only player in the tournament field to shoot under-par. In addition to earning the individual medalist honor, Lorenzetti earned Freshman of the Year honors along with Taylor Coalson from UNCG and also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team.
With the win Lorenzetti earned the league's individual automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Championship, which will be contested from May 16-18.
"I'm really happy for Josh (Lorenzetti) and proud of the way he competed this week," CofC head coach Mark McEntire said. "To be the only player in the tournament to shoot under-par says a lot about his poise and confidence this week. He battled difficult conditions, but kept calm and played great out there."
Lorenzetti joins Daniel Brunson (2002) and Bruce McDonald (2003) as the CofC individual winners in the history of the Cougar program, which started play in the SoCon tournament in 1999.
The Cougars shot a 10-over 298 on the final day of the tournament and finished at +34 to earn their eighth top three finish in program history. Chattanooga (+20) won the tournament by two shots over Davidson (+22).
Lorenzetti, playing in the final grouping with Steven Fox from Chattanooga and Todd Eckstein from Davidson, took a one-stroke lead into the final hole. The rookie from Columbia, S.C., made par on the 18th to lock up his individual title. The three were tied for the lead heading into the 17th, where Lorenzetti birdied the par-4 hole to pull ahead.
Lorenzetti was the only player in the field to finish under par for the tournament, as he wrapped up with a three-day total of 1-under 215. After opening with a 4-over 76, he shot a 3-under 69 Monday before closing with a 2-under round.
Lorenzetti was the not the only Cougar to finish in the top-10 as junior Alex Ellis (Austin, Texas) came back from an opening 79 to shoot 71-73 in his final two rounds for a score of 223 (+7). Ellis, who finished tied for eighth in the tournament, earned a spot on the All-Conference team for his play in this tournament and the season overall.
In his last collegiate golf tournament, senior John Duke Hudson (Sonora, Texas) shot rounds of 79-72-78=229 (+13) and finished tied for 21st overall.
"We were close yesterday and today to having really good rounds," McEntire said. "We started playing a lot better our last few tournament of the year and hopefully we can use that momentum into this summer and next fall. I'm excited to travel to the NCAA Regional with Josh and see what he can do next month."
TEAM LEADERBOARD
2 1 1 Chattanooga 298 290 296 884 +20
1 2 2 Davidson College 297 294 295 886 +22
4 3 3 College of Charleston 309 291 298 898 +34
3 4 4 Appalachian State 305 298 303 906 +42
T7 6 T5 Georgia Southern 315 293 301 909 +45
T7 8 T5 UNCG 315 298 296 909 +45
6 7 T7 Samford 314 298 302 914 +50
5 5 T7 Elon 312 295 307 914 +50
9 10 9 Furman 320 309 292 921 +57
10 9 10 Western Carolina 324 304 304 932 +68
11 11 11 Wofford College 332 305 300 937 +73
COFC RESULTS
3 College of Charleston 309 291 298 898
1 Josh Lorenzetti (3) 76 69 70 215
T8 Alex Ellis (2) 79 71 73 223
T21 John Duke Hudson (5) 79 72 78 229
T32 Zach Munroe (1) 75 79 79 233
T47 Jackson Moore (4) 81 82 77 240
Top 10 individuals Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Total
1. Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston 76 69 70 215
T2. Todd Eckstein, Davidson 71 74 72 217
T2. Steven Fox, Chattanooga 72 71 74 217
T2. Taylor Coalson, UNCG 72 75 70 217
5. Richard Fountain, Davidson 75 72 72 219
6. Davis Bunn, Chattanooga 77 72 71 220
7. Casey Komline, Appalachian State 73 75 74 222
T8. Josh Nichols, Appalachian State 77 72 74 223
T8. Alex Ellis, College of Charleston 79 71 73 223
T10. Chris Robb, Chattanooga 74 76 74 224
T10. J.T. Poston, Western Carolina 80 74 70 224
All-conference team
Casey Komline, Appalachian State
Alex Ellis, College of Charleston
Sam Echikson, Davidson
Richard Fountain, Davidson
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Drew Aimone, Samford
Casey O'Toole, Samford
Steven Fox, Chattanooga
Chris Robb, Chattanooga
J.T. Poston, Western Carolina
All-freshman team
Caleb Keck, Appalachian State
Lee Mitchell, Appalachian State
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Luke Haithcock, UNCG
Player of the Year
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Freshman of the Year
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Coach of the Year
Bill Morningstar, Elon
