Men's Golf Wins Sam Hall Intercollegiate; Matt Lorenz Takes Home Medalist Honors

Monday, September 17

Hattiesburg, Miss.

All Day

Southern Miss

Hattiesburg Country Club

Men's Golf Wins Sam Hall Intercollegiate; Matt Lorenz Takes Home Medalist Honors

9/18/2018 7:06:00 PM | Men's Golf

Sam Hall Team Final

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss men's golf team rallied from an early tournament deficit to capture the 16th annual Sam Hall Intercollegiate Tuesday at the Hattiesburg Country Club.

Matt Lorenz, who shot a final-round 67, finished the tournament with a 205 stroke total to win his first collegiate event. The junior from Gulf Shores, Ala., bested Tyler Cobb of Mercer by two strokes to win the individual crown.

"Matt is what we would call a gamer," said Southern Miss coach Eddie Brescher on Lorenz's performance. "When the pressure is on, he performs at his best. He has all of the tools to compete with the best players anywhere. I don't think any of us are surprised that Matt is now a collegiate champion."

The tournament victory marked the first for the team since the 2014 Samford Intercollegiate and it was just the second time the host squad won this event. The other came in 2004.

"We are very excited about our performance this week," said Brescher. "Our team stared adversity in the face early in the tournament and kept on fighting to a win. I am so proud of the direction our program is headed."

The Golden Eagles were in last place at one point during the first round before rallying to jump to an eighth-place tie after 18 holes. The Golden Eagles climbed to second place after yesterday's second round, which saw them fire a school-record tying low of 273, which was 11-under par. Southern Miss rounded out the event with a five-under 279 over the final circuit to finish the 54-hole event with an 843, besting Mercer by four strokes.

Individually, junior Walker Kesterson (Hartsburg, Mo.) shot a final-round 71 to finish with a 210 and a fourth-place tie. Freshman Joey Kirkland (West Monroe, La.) added a 72 over his last round for a 214 and an 18th-place showing. Sophomore Brian Richards added a 71 for a 216 and a 24th-place tie. Senior Derick Kelting (Amarillo, Texas) rounded out the team scorers with a 70 and a 221 overall, placing tied for 50th.

Five other Southern Miss players competed as individuals as senior Nathan Corchis (Water Sound, Fla.) shot a season-low round of 70 as did senior Willie Hammond (Southlake, Texas) to post scores of 215 and 217 to finish tied for 22nd- and 28th-place, respectively.

Sophomore Hunter Atkins (West Point, Miss.) and senior Philip Heine (Madison, Miss.) each shot a 74 over the final 18 holes to place tied for 59th with a 227, while Charles-Eric Belanger (Quebec City, Quebec) added an even-par 71 to end with a 231 and a 71st-place tie.

With his team's first two events, Brescher is excited about what is to come this season.

"It is great to have a victory through the first two events of the season. However, our focus will be on the next event and preparing to perform in Raleigh."

The Golden Eagles return to action, Oct. 6-7, at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate in Raleigh, N.C., and hosted by NC State.