PETERSBURG, Va. – Daniel George posted the top finish for Longwood men's golf sent four individuals to compete in the Griffin Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, September 18-19. He carded a top 10 finish, and Matthew Lyons had the team's best round on the day.
 
The event, though, carries much more meaning for Longwood Head Golf Coach Kevin Fillman. The Griffin Invitational is named in memory of Griffin Clark, and it is hosted by Saint Leo.
 
Clark was one of the best junior players in the Commonwealth from 2012-15, and Fillman recruited him before events led to Clark enrolling at Saint Leo University in Florida in 2015. Clark then went on to clinch the winning point at the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
However, the following summer, he was killed in a car accident near his home. Saint Leo hosts "The Griffin" each fall, with it alternating between the Country Club of Petersburg in Petersburg, Virginia and Florida every year.
 
"It was personally an honor for me to have some of our guys compete here," said Fillman. "The Clarks are amazing people, and when the opportunity to enter a few players arose, there was no hesitation on my part to do it.
 
"As for our play, I thought that we did a lot of really good things yesterday, especially in the afternoon round. That's easy to say, given that our scores showed that we played well, but I mean that the way we went about it was pretty much exactly how we want to play. I was hoping we could pick up today where we left off last evening. Unfortunately, most of us did not have our best game today. What I liked, however, was the way we fought and worked to get all we could out of it for much of the round. Although we weren't quite able to finish it off, that's a mindset that will certainly help us down the road."
 
On Par 72, 7,108 yard course at the Country Club of Petersburg, George tallied a three-round score of 72-69-76—217 (+1) to finish tied for 10^th as the team's top performer.
 
Lyons shot a 70 for a second straight round to vault up 16 spots in the standings. He finished T18 with a three-round score of 78-70-70—218 (+2). It was his collegiate debut for the Lancers.
 
Scott Jordan also tied for 18^th after moving up a pair of spots in his final round. He carded an even-par 72 on the day for a three-round total of 75-71-72—218 (+2).
 
Willie Hoover closed the event tied for 26^th. He finished with a final round 77 for a 54-hole total of 72-71-77—220 (+4).
 
The Lancers are back in action next week when the team heads to the Virtues Intercollegiate, hosted by Miami University of Ohio, at Virtues Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio. The team will play 54 holes over two days on Monday and Tuesday, September 25-26.
 
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