ALPHARETTA, Ga. (Oct. 22, 2017) – Playing in what is considered to be the top collegiate golf tournament of the fall season, East Tennessee State University freshman Austin Carter (Kingsport, Tenn.) turned in the best collegiate showing of his young Buccaneer career. 

Carter – who shot an even-par 72 for the second straight day – finished tied for 30th at 3-under-par 213 (69-72-72) at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate, which concluded on Sunday afternoon at the Lakeside Course. The Kingsport, Tenn. native totaled 35 pars and a team-best 11 birdies en route to recording his best finish out of four events this fall season. 

The field, which consisted of 10 teams ranked in the top-25 and 14 individuals ranked in the top-50, featured tight finishes to determine both the team and individual winners.

Texas’ Doug Ghim – the 30th-ranked player via Golfstat – edged out fellow Big 12 Conference counterpart and No. 41 Matthew Wolff (Oklahoma State) by one stroke. Ghim posted a 2-under 70 in the final round to rally for medalist honors after finishing the tournament at 13-under-par 203 (66-67-70). Despite tying for the second lowest score of the afternoon (5-under 67), Wolff finished runner-up at 12-under-par 204 (66-71-71), while Duke’s Alex Smalley – the 36-hole leader – placed third at 11-under-par 205 (67-65-73).

Just as they battled for the individual win, both Oklahoma State and Texas went back-and-forth for the team title; however, the two reversed spots on the team leaderboard. Top-ranked Oklahoma State went low on Sunday by firing a 14-under 274 to jump four spots and earn a three-shot win over No. 31 Texas. The Cowboys finished the tournament at 27-under-par 837 (277-286-274), while Texas finished third at 24-under-par 840 (279-279-282) and No. 11 Wake Forest (the 36-hole leader) came in third at 22-under-par 842 (282-271-289). 

As a group, the Buccaneers finished 15th at 7-over-par 871 (293-288-290). For the weekend, ETSU led the tournament field with 187 pars, but the Blue and Gold only posted 37 birdies. 

Like Carter, freshman Jack Rhea (Jonesborough, Tenn.) also turned in an even-par 72 on Sunday, while he and junior Geuntae Kim (Daegu, South Korea) finished tied for 63rd at 5-over-par 221. Freshman Shiso Go (Kanagawa, Japan) finished tied for 54th at 3-over-par 219 (74-72-73) and sophomore Trevor Hulbert (Orlando, Fla.) placed tied for 69th at 7-over-par 223 (76-74-73). Hulbert enjoyed a run of four straight birdies on Sunday, but posted consecutive bogeys on No. 6 and 7 to finish with the 73. Both Go and Kim led the Bucs with 41 pars each over the weekend. 

The Bucs wrap up their fall season next weekend as ETSU heads to Hawaii for the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational. The three-day, 54-hole tournament begins Sunday afternoon at the Makai Golf Club. 

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