LAFAYETTE HILL, Pa. – Nick Fleming tied for fourth, and Longwood men's golf had three players finish in the top 11 of the Dragon Match Play Invitational on a cold, wet, challenging Monday.
 
The Lancers sit second in the eight team field to qualify for the Championship Bracket of match play that begins tomorrow. The championship bracket pairs up the top four teams in the semifinals before the two winners square off for the Dragon Match Play Invitational crown at the Par 71, 6,744-yard course at the Green Valley Country Club
 
NOTABLE RESULTS:
 
Despite the harsh conditions, Longwood knocked five strokes off its first round score to finish second at the event. The Lancers carded a 294-289—583 (+15) and finished nine shots back of Rhode Island.
 
Longwood was second after one round, with Rhode Island third, but Rhode Island knocked a whopping 24 strokes off its first round score with an incredible second round 275 to take the lead. The Lancers finished one stroke ahead of the top team for the hosts, Drexel.
 
Fleming tied for fourth with two consistent rounds. He tallied a 73-70—143 (+1). His second-round 70 featured three birdies and nothing worse than a bogey to help him stay around the top of the leaderboard.
 
Justin LaRue had a modest 73-72—145 (+3) to tie for eighth. He too had nothing worse than a bogey over the 36 holes.
 
Scott Jordan tied for 11^th in the 42-player field with a 73-74—147 (+5). He had a pair of birdies on the day.
 
David LaFreniere finished 23^rd with 75-76—151 (+9). He had six birdies over his two rounds.
 
Hunter Swidzinski was one spot behind, tied for 24^th. He bounced back from a tough opening round to finish with a 79-73—152 (+10).
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"Today was pretty brutal," said Longwood Head Coach Kevin Fillman. "Almost as soon as we got started this morning, it became more about survival and just making sure we made the championship bracket for tomorrow as much as anything else. Every player in the field had to embrace the conditions and had to seriously convince themselves they wanted to be out there in order to be successful."
 
"That's what makes what Rhode Island did this afternoon all the more amazing," Fillman added. "I'm happy with how our guys hung in there all day too. We probably lost as many shots to our own doing as we did to the weather conditions, but we toughed it out and did what we had to do. We're excited for the match play portion tomorrow. Playing Drexel on their turf will be a challenge. We'll be ready."
 
FULL RESULTS:
 
2. Longwood: 294-289—583 (+15)
 
T4. Nick Fleming: 73-70—143 (+1)
T8. Justin LaRue: 73-72—145 (+3)
T11. Scott Jordan: 73-74—147 (+5)
23. David LaFreniere: 75-76—151 (+9)
T24. Hunter Swidzinski: 79-73—152 (+10)
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood begins teeing off against Drexel at 9:05 a.m. The winner of the match will take on the winner of Rhode Island and St. Joe's in the afternoon.
 
For the Lancers, LaFreniere will face off against John Keba. Jordan takes on Griffin Mitchell. Swidzinski pairs up with Kevin Lydon, LaRue tees off against Drue Nicholas, and Fleming goes against Caleb Taylor.
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Live stats are available online here.
 
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