The Samford men’s golf team finished 14th in the Mason Rudolph Men’s Golf Championship held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., Saturday and Sunday.
“The Mason Rudolph field was our most competitive this year. Five top 50 teams competed including Vanderbilt, Florida, and Alabama,” said Samford Coach Al DelGreco.
“Conditions were very difficult for rounds 1 and 2,” he added.
Despite those difficult conditions, The Bulldogs responded to the challenge.
Samford had a team score of 911 (301-311-299), to come in 14th. The host team, ninth-ranked Vanderbilt won the event with a score of 847 (275-291-281). The 19th-ranked Florida Gators came in second at 848 (283-286-279), while 17th-ranked Alabama finished third with a score of 861 (282-291-288).
Senior Zach Hughes led the Bulldogs with rounds of 70, 75 and 73 for a T14 finish in the 78-player field. “Zach has played well all year after returning from shoulder surgery last year,” DelGreco said.
Junior Ivan Truss finished with rounds of 70, 79 and 75 for a T42nd finish, what DelGreco said was Truss’ “best tournament to date.”
The group of Samford freshmen was led by Crawford Flach with rounds of 81, 77 and 74 to tie for 62nd, while Jackson Seawell and Ashton Nix tied for 73rd.
Sam Horsfield of Florida, ranked sixth in the GolfStat rankings, won individual medalist honors with a score of 206 (70-70-66).
With a talented core of young players, DelGrecro is pleased by how his team has progressed this season.
“We still have a lot of work to do but I’m happy with our work ethic and improvements we have made this year,” DelGreco said.
Samford will close the 2015-16 season April 24-26 with the Southern Conference tournament in Pinehurst, N.C.