Pugh records third consecutive top-10 finish  

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Oct. 20, 2013) – For the third straight tournament, ETSU junior golfer Rhys Pugh (Pontypridd, Wales) posted a top-10 finish as the Bucs wrapped up play at the United States Collegiate Championship on Sunday afternoon from The Golf Club of Georgia – Lakeside Course.

Playing in one the most difficult and prestigious tournaments, Pugh shot a 73 in Sunday’s final round and finished tied for 10th at 3-under-par 213 (69-71-73). Pugh’s finish marked ETSU’s best individual placing at the USCC – which is often referred to as “the Masters of college golf” – since Rhys Enoch tied for ninth in 2009. Despite carding a pair of double-bogeys in the round, Pugh managed to finish 1-over by registering four birdies on the day.

After entering the final round with a one-shot lead, Georgia Tech’s Ollie Schniederjans held on for the individual title by firing a 1-under 71 on Sunday and won the tournament by four strokes. Schniederjans, the sixth-ranked golfer according to Golfweek, recorded a three-round score of 10-under-par 206, while Virginia’s Ben Rusch placed second at 6-under.

With Schniederjans capturing the individual crown, No. 3-ranked Georgia Tech was looking to make it a clean sweep and repeat as tournament champion. However, Oklahoma State began the day with a one-shot lead over the Yellow Jackets, and the seventh-ranked Cowboys held on for a one-stroke victory. Both Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech shot 4-under in the final round, and the Cowboys won their first-ever USCC team title with a score of 15-under 849.

As a team, ETSU tied for 11th with No. 24 Auburn. The Bucs recorded a team score of 14-over 878 (294-290-294), and placed higher than No. 18 Kent State and No. 21 Clemson. Sophomore Adrian Meronk (Wroclaw, Poland) posted the lowest score for the Bucs on Sunday by going 1-under 71. Meronk, who birdied his final hole, finished the tournament in a tie for 32nd at 2-over-par 218 (75-72-71).

The Bucs wrap up their fall season in two weeks as ETSU heads to Kauai, Hawaii for the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational, which begins Monday, Nov. 4.

ETSU fans wanting to receive Buccaneer news, score updates, in-game promotions and much more sent to their mobile device can do so by signing up for “Buc Updates.” Click here to sign up today!

For more information on Buccaneer men’s golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s golf page.