Papineau, WVU Golf Runners-Up at Health Plan Invite

Papineau, WVU Runners-Up at Health Plan Invite

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (Oct. 10, 2017) – Led by a runner-up finish from Etienne Papineau, the West Virginia University golf team jumped six spots in the final round of play to take second at The Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia, on Tuesday.

After struggling in the second round with a team score of 298, WVU carded its second-best score of the season – the lowest team round of the day – to finish as the team runner-up. It marks the Mountaineers’ best-ever finish at the event and moves them to 25-1 on the season. West Virginia tallied a final score of 291-298-277=866 for two over par.

“I’m really proud of the guys today,” coach Sean Covich said. “To shoot the lowest score of the tournament in the last round when we absolutely had to have it was impressive. I think today, plus our performance at VCU, shows what these guys are capable of.”

Bowling Green took home top team honors, finishing with a score of 864 for even par. Rutgers took third at four-over (868), followed by Utah at five-over par (869). Marshall’s Alex Wiss was the individual medalist at eight under par with a 208.

Following a 69 in the first round, Papineau spent most the day in a tie for first place. He carded six birdies across the final two rounds, shooting 69-71-71=211 for a career low. Papineau finished five-under par and in a tie for second place.

Max Sear shot seven-under-par in the final, tying his own program record of 66 for the third time. He moved up 32 spots in the final round with a total of 74 -76 -66=216 for even par, tying for 10th place.

Competing as an individual, Avery Schneider also tied the program record with a 66 in the second-round carding eight birdies across the round. He finished the tournament with a 54-hole total of 74-66-77=217 for one over par. Schneider finished tied for 15th place. Also playing as an individual, Drew Dewald tied for 19th place at two-over par. Dewald shot 72-74-72=218.

Tristan Nicholls used a career-low round of 68 and 11 birdies across 54 holes for a 24th-place finish. He shot 76-76-68=220 to finish four under on the day and four over par in the tournament.

Individual Logan Perkins shot a 69 to cap his collegiate debut. He finished in a tie for 27th place, carding a score of 80-72-69=221 for five-over par.

Fellow freshmen Matthew Sharpstene and Mark Goetz tied for 37th place with matching scores of 22 for six over. Sharpstene shot 72-75-75, while Goetz’s scorecard showed 77-71-74. All three freshmen have recorded rounds of 69 or better through two tournaments this season.

Philipp Matlari finished with a three-round score of 78-78-72=228. He was 12 over and tied for 67th place.

After a week off, the Mountaineers will travel to Windermere, Florida, to co-host the Tavistock Intercollegiate with Central Florida. The two will host the event Oct. 22-24 at Isleworth Golf and Country Club.

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