Augusta golf teams continue their stellar play as spring season ramps up

By Erin Burditt |Sports writerThe Augusta University men’s and women’s golf teams are coming off outstanding finishes in their most recent tournaments.AU men’s team finished in first place in the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate Invitational at Hilton Head, S.C., from Feb. 24-25. This was second top-three finish for Coach Jack O'Keefe's team in its last three tournaments.The women’s team placed second in their last tournament, the Moon Golf Invitational at Melbourne, Fla., from Feb. 17-18. This was their fourth straight top-10 finish.Augusta shot 14 over par as the Jaguars beat Davidson by three strokes on the par-72, 6,913-yard course at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate Invitational, which was hosted by Francis Marion University. AU senior Gustav Andersson has seen his play improve as the year has gone on. Andersson finished fifth overall in the Wexford Invitational as he shot 1 over par.One of the mainstays for the men’s golf team this year has been freshman Ben van Wyk. He had the best round out of everyone on the team at Wexford as he shot 5 under par for the second round at the Wexford tourney. Finishing tied for third overall, van Wyk placed the highest out of everyone on the AU team as he shot even par.Sophomore Alex van Wyk had another solid outing as he shot 5 over par at the Wexford Invitational for an 11th-place finish. Alex van Wyk shot his best round of the tournament during round two as he shot even par."I am proud of the guys and how they fought the entire final round after a rough start," O'Keefe said. "Ben van Wyk had his best finish of his career."O'Keefe also praised Andersson and Alex van Wyk."Those guys have been our best players this spring and we will continue to lean on them to carry us through the remainder of the season," O'Keefe said. "We have a young team with three freshmen, two sophomores and two seniors. I am excited about the future of Augusta University golf."Next up for the men is the Gary Freeman Invitational at the LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla., on March 12-13.It's also the 10th anniversary of Augusta State's first national championship in NCAA Division I men's golf. The 2010 team was led by current PGA standout and 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed and professional golfer Henrik Norlander.The AU women’s golf team saw their play improve during the final round of the Moon Golf Invitational as they took second place with a score of 3 under par. Senior Linda Lundqvist has seen her play improve over the course of the season, as this was her best finish yet. Lundqvist finished tied for third as she shot 5 under par. Junior Teresa Diez-Moliner had another solid outing as she finished tied for 21st place and shot 2 over par. Diez-Moliner finished strong as she shot 5 under par during the third round.Freshman Napabhach Boon-In saw her play improve as she finished tied for 14th place. Boon-In finished with a score of 1 over par and looks to build off of a solid outing.The Augusta University men’s golf team travels to Daytona Beach, Fla., from March 12-13 to compete in the Gary Freeman Invitational. The women’s team is at home at the Forest Hills Golf Club to host the Valspar Augusta Invitational from March 14-15. Contact Erin Burditt at EBURDITT@augusta.edu. 

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