The University of the Cumberlands' (UC) Golf team hosted their annual Bill Sergent Invitational this past week at the Crooked Creek Golf Club in London, KY where both the men and women's teams finished in 3^rd place. The men finished with a two day total of 598 (299-299) while the women tallied a combined score of 662 (330-332).

The Patriot men were led by Pierre Carlsson (Nykoping, Sweden) and Aaron Watkins (Harlan, KY) who both individually placed in the top ten of the overall 83 who participated. Carlsson posted a two day, 36 hole total of 144 (69-75) for even par and a 4^th place tie with Watkins posting a stroke higher at 145 (73-72) to tie for a 7^th place finish.

Lee University took the annual invite with a team total of 584. Lindsey Wilson College followed with a 592. After Cumberlands, rounding out the top five were Walters State Junior College and Campbellsville University with scores of 603 and 605, respectively.

"We have a good news bad newsscenario going with the men this week," said Cumberlands head coach Chris Kraftick. "The good news is both our "A" team and "B" team finished top 4 in the event and 4 players finished in the top 7. The bad news is the "A" didn't win, which is the expectation for every tournament we enter, and only two of the four that played well were on the "A" team. We have never had this kind of depth and unfortunately the guys that qualified well didn't play well and the guys that didn't qualify well played great.As time goes on I'lldo a better job getting the lineup figured out. Pierre and Aaron did a great job leading us. They are definitely our leaders and two of the best players in the country."

Newcomer Fredrik Antholm (Sollentuna, Sweden), who was on Cumberlands "B" team for the event, posted an even-par total of 144 (70-74) in a tie for 4^th. Two others on the Cumberlands "B" team shot under the 150 mark also; Eric Hodgson (Canton, GA), 145 (71-74; 7^th), and Josh Edmunds (Boston, Lincolnshire, UK), 149 (72-77; 15^th). Antholm and Hodgson also placed in the individual top ten for the tournament.

"Fredrik Anthlom made the All Tournament Team as an individual in his first college event which isreally impressive," commented Kraftick. "Eric Hodgson had a great tournament as an individual as well; he is a very experienced and talented player who will spend a lot of time in our lineup."

Leading the way for the women was sophomore McKinzie Price (Somerset, KY) who shot a combined total of 159 (82-77), and tied for 5^th place individually.

"Obviouslynot the start we hoped for this week," said Kraftick. "We have not really been playing well as a group since practice started and it continuedthis week.McKinzie played 27 good holes and made the All Tournament Team. She and Laura Beth have to be our leaders on the course with three freshmen in the lineup. It's a lot to put on two sophomores, but that's the situation were in. This team will get drastically better in the coming weeks,as coaches we have to do a better job teachingdue to our youth."

Lindsey Wilson College captured the women's title with a combined total of 624 (311-313). Campbellsville University came in second with a 652 (326-326). Rounding out the top five team finishers after Cumberlands was Indiana Tech with a 684 (348-336) and Tennessee Wesleyan with a 700 (356-344).

Freshman newcomer Emma Burman (Stockholm, Sweden) followed Price in the Patriot finishers with a two-day total of 167 (85-82) for an 11^th place finish. Sophomore Laura Beth Harris (Glasgow, KY) came in with a 16^th place tie with a 170 (80-90) and freshman Chelsea Branscum (Somerset, KY) and Taylor Gillis (Lawrenceburg, KY) rounded out the Patriot top five with finishes of 18^th (171; 83-88) and 19^th (172; 87-85), respectively.

The Patriot Golf Team will be back in action for the Mid-South Conference Fall Tournament at Dale Hollow State Park in Burkesville, Kentucky. The men will play the 13^th and 14^th, and the women on the 16^th and 17^th.

Article Provided by Chris Dillon, University of the Cumberlands Sports Information Student Assistant.