Bryant Drayton
Contributing Writer
Four tournaments in, VCU recorded their highest finish of the season, placing second overall in the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic on Oct. 13-14 at the Berkeley Hills Country Club. Ultimately the final round of the tournament was cancelled due to heavy rain and a tornado watch resulting in only 36 holes being played.
Not wavered by the inclement weather, the Rams were able to continue their solid play so far this season, capturing a second place finish of the 11 teams. VCU ultimately lost by three strokes to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
VCU as a team shot a first round total of 285 followed by a second round of 280, giving the Rams their lowest totals of the season.
Sophomore Jamie Clare led the way, tying for a fourth place finish in individuals. The South Alabama transfer shot an opening round of 71 followed by a three under 69. Clare was also able to convert 11 birdies, which was top on the green. This was Clare’s best outing as a Ram since his transfer, as he now has shot five rounds of par or better this season.
Sophomore Hanish Nagrani also placed in the top-10 of individuals, with an opening round score of 70 and a second round score of 71. The Ontario native produced a better showing than his 23rd place finish in the Janney VCU Shootout Sept. 23, where he finished with a three-round score of 77-77-70.
Junior Steffen Harm and sophomore Enej Sarkanj tied for 14th in the field.
Junior Adam Ball tied for 34th with a two-round score of 72-74, giving the Rams’ top performer his worst finish of the season.
VCU will conclude their fall tournament schedule Oct. 25-26 at the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina.