Golfers capture Innisbrook Invite title

Results

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Tom Harp called it an "epic day" for Wayland Baptist golf.

With a big assist from freshman Zane Welborn, the Pioneers came from behind with a final-round 292 and ran away with the title at The Invite at Innisbrook.

"Anytime you can win in Florida at this tournament against these schools, you've done something," Harp said.

After rounds of 292 and 294 Monday at Innisbrook Resort's par-71 Copperhead Course, Wayland closed with another 292 Tuesday for an 878 total. That 26-over score was a healthy nine shots in front of runner-up Keiser University, Fla. (296-299-292—887) and 14 ahead of both South Carolina Beaufort and Eastern Florida State, which tied for third. First-day leader Dalton State, Ga., which on Monday shot 300-285 to lead Wayland by one, struggled to a 311 Tuesday for an 896, 18 shots behind Wayland.

"I'm thoroughly impressed with the team," Harp said of his Pioneers. "They have great attitudes and put in great effort. They're an impressive bunch of young men."

The nine-team Innisbrook field featured eight NAIA teams, all of which were ranked or received votes in the NAIA Top 25 last spring. In that poll, Wayland was No. 8, Keiser was No. 2, Dalton State No. 5 and USC-Beaufort No. 10. Coastal Georgia, which tied for fifth place, was No. 1 in the spring poll.

Individually, senior Sentanio Minnie paced the Pioneers with his tied-for-fourth-place finish. Minnie followed rounds of 73 and 71 Monday with a 74 for his 5-over 218. Topping the 45-golfer field was Dalton State's Trevor Bassett (72-68-75), whose 2-over 215 was two in front of Southeastern's Noah Endicott (72-74-71—217) and Keiser's Wilhelm Ahlgren (72-72-73—217).

Besides Minnie, other Pioneer golfers and their scores were sophomore Joshua Smedema (71-75-74—220), who placed ninth; senior Sebastien Tremulot (70-77-76—223), who tied for 11^th; freshman Zane Welborn (80-76-68—224), who was 14^th; and junior Jake Craft (78-72-77—227), who tied for 21^st.

Harp praised Welborn, a freshman from Amarillo High who recorded five birdies and two bogeys and moved up 14 places over the final 18 holes.

"This is a tough PGA course that can be intimidating, but he handled it well and shot one of the lower rounds we've seen out here," Harp said. "Zane was a huge part of us winning the tournament."

The win was Wayland's second straight this fall after the Pioneers claimed the Andrews Invitational after tying for second at the season-opening Mid-South Classic in Kansas. Dating back to last year, WBU has won five of its last eight tournaments.

The Pioneers' final outing of the fall will be the Ryan Palmer Invitational set to be played Oct. 26 and 27 at Amarillo's Tascosa Country Club.