NINETY SIX, S.C. – Longwood men's golf saw its season come to a close on Friday at The Patriot at Grand Harbor in the final round of stroke play at the Big South Tournament.
 
The Lancers posted a final-round 294, the fourth lowest score on the day, as Nick Rakes and Christian Michael both posted rounds at par or better on the par 72, 7,103 yard course. However, the team's opening round proved to be too deep to dig out of as the Lancers stayed in ninth.
 
"We talked last night about still having a lot to play for and tried to put as much wind back in our sails as possible for today's round," said head coach Kevin Fillman. "It would have been easy for us to just play it out and head on home, but it's good that a few of us took it to heart and showed what we're made of.  I appreciate that kind of fight.  It means a lot now but will serve us even more so in the future."
 
Rakes put together his best round of the tournament to finish 16^th after a final-round 70 that was two-under par. He posted three birdies and 14 pars in his final 18 holes. His 36 pars over the tournament were tied for the seventh-most in the tournament. He finished with a three-round score of 77-71-70—218 (+2).
 
Meanwhile, Michael shot an even 72 in his final round of the season. The junior, like Rakes, was consistent. He posted 14 pars and a pair of birdies on the day, including a stretch of nine straight pars. Michael was tied for 40^th with a three-round score of 80-78-72—230 (+14).
 
Brendan Dunphy tied for 28^th. He carded a three-round score of 76-74-75—225 (+9). Scott Jordan finished 42^nd to close his freshman season. Jordan tallied a 76-74-82—232, (+16). Payo Larrain came on as a sub to shoot a final-round 77 in place of Zane Moore.
 
"I was happy to get Payo out there to play his final round," said Fillman. "Both he and Ryan Hammer have been terrific examples of the type of player we want in our program over the past four years. It's difficult knowing that we fell short of our goal of making match play again, especially for the guys who had that experience last year. I'm disappointed for our guys, but, like I told them, I'm not disappointed in anybody. I know what every one of them have gone through to help our team try to reach its goals.  It just wasn't meant to be this week."
 
With the season drawing to a close, the Lancers will prepare for the 2022-23 season beginning next fall.
 
The Patriot at Grand Harbor
Ninety Six, S.C.
Par 72, 7,103yards
Team Leaderboard
1. Charleston Southern (281-290-285—856, -8)
2. Gardner-Webb (285-292-282—859, -5)
3. Campbell (287-281-297—865, +1)
T4. Winthrop (285-293-295—873, +9)
T4. Radford (294-293-286—873, +9)
6. USC Upstate (293-290-295—878, +14)
7. High Point (288-293-298—879, +15)
8. Presbyterian (296-290-297—883, +19)
9. Longwood (307-297-294—898, +34)
10. North Carolina A&T (301-305-316—922, +58)
 
Longwood Individuals

16. Nick Rakes (77-71-70—218, +2)
T28. Brendan Dunphy (76-74-75—225, +9)
40. Christian Michael (80-78-72—230, +14)
42. Scott Jordan (76-74-82—232, +16)
Payo Larrain (77, +5)
Zane Moore (78-84—162, +18)
 
#HorsePower