FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. – Alas, the good times came to and end for Longwood men's golf on Saturday afternoon at the Big South Championship.
 
Longwood was amid a tight fight for the top four among a highly competitive field at the Big South Championship, but an untimely injury proved costly.
 
Justin LaRue, who was sitting second in the tournament through two rounds, was a late scratch due to injury. Even with a solid performance from substitute Daniel George, the Lancers were vaulted in the standings and finished two strokes back of the top four.
 
Nick Rakes posted the top round for the day on the team, and Scott Jordan was the team's top finisher over the three days.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"Like we talk about all the time, stroke play golf always comes down to a shot or two," said Longwood Head Coach Kevin Fillman. "We've had a lot of experience in learning that lesson over the years, and we can now add today to that list.
 
"It's obviously tough when the probably conference player of the year isn't able to go, but we were still able to put five really good players on the golf course," Fillman said. "I was very confident that we would play a solid round and give ourselves a chance to play tomorrow. The guys we were able to put out there played really hard, and I couldn't have asked for anything more from them, but we just didn't quite have enough to get it done. It's unfortunate because we had a very good team, and, if at full strength, I know we would have been a threat to lift the trophy come tomorrow afternoon."
 
"I can't say enough positive things about all that Dan George, Nick Rakes and Willie Hoover have done for our golf team," Fillman said of his seniors. "Those guys mean a tremendous amount to me both personally and professionally and helped create a championship culture that I can guarantee will carry into the future."
 
RESULTS:
Ocean Creek Golf Course
Fripp Island, S.C.
Par 71, 6,526 Yard
 
Team
5. Longwood: 284-273-292—849 (-3)
 
Individual
T11. Scott Jordan: 71-67-74—212 (-1)
T22. Nick Rakes: 76-70-71—217 (+4)
T25. Matthew Lyons: 72-71-76—219 (+6)
30. Logan Hooper: 73-75-74—222 (+9)
S. Daniel George: XX-XX—73 (+2)
WD-INJ. Justin LaRue: 68-65-XX—133 (-9)
 
NOTABLES:
 
Rakes posted the team's best round in his final round of Longwood golf, leading the way with an even-par 71. That helped him climb up four spots into a tie for 22^nd in the standings.
 
For the three rounds, Rakes finished with 10 birdies and an eagle.
 
Meanwhile, Jordan tied for 11^th in the standings, the team's top finisher. He was at his best on Par 5s, where he was four under for the weekend. He tied for third in the field with 34 pars, and he led Longwood with 11 birdies in the three rounds.
 
George came on as a substitute and was solid with a two-over 73 in his final round as a Lancer. He carded two birdies over his 18 holes despite being pressed into service late in the process.
 
Matthew Lyons wrapped up his debut season with Longwood in a tie for 25^th, and he added two birdies on the day. He had nine over the three-day event to go with an eagle.
 
Logan Hooper closed well for Longwood, posting back-to-back birdies in the final two holes to climb up four spots in the standings to 30^th.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower