Men's Golf 4/19/2016 5:00:00 PM

MEN’S GOLF MAKES HISTORY ON FINAL DAY AT BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

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TOURNAMENT INFO
- Name: Big South Men's Golf Championship
- Course (par/yardage): The Patriot Golf Club (par 72 / 7,120 yards)
- Location: Ninety Six, S.C.
- Field: 10 teams
- Round 3

NINETY SIX, S.C. – Behind three golfers in red figures, Radford put together its best-ever round at the Big South Men's Golf Championship Tuesday to climb into fifth place upon conclusion of the three-day tournament at The Patriot Golf Club.

The Highlanders, who entered the final round tied for seventh with Coastal Carolina, blistered the 7,120-yard layout for a 5-under-par 283, which edged the program record of 4-under-par 284 in the first round of last year's tournament. Their 54-hole total of 884 (304-297-283) is also a program record, besting last year's mark of 885.

Radford made the turn Tuesday at 1-under-par and was tied for sixth late in the round with Gardner-Webb. However, the Highlanders set off fireworks down the stretch of their final round, posting eight birdies over their last five holes to leap Longwood and post a fifth-place showing. RU ended only one shot behind fourth-place Winthrop.

Leading the charge on the final day was senior Conner Hayden, who closed his storybook career with a 4-under-par 68, which tied the program record for best individual round at the conference championship. The Chilhowie, Va., native recorded four birdies in a seven-hole stretch, highlighted by a hole-out from the bunker on the par-3 15^th, to make the turn at 3-under-par.

He knocked in birdies at the par-5 fifth and the par-5 eighth to finish the tournament at 7-under-par in par-5 scoring, which tied for second-best in the field. In the end, Hayden signed for an aggregate 220 (78-74-68) to tie for 14^th.

Also delivering in the clutch was Myles Creighton, who tied for eighth at 217 (74-73-70). The sophomore finished his last six holes on Tuesday in 4-under-par, which included darts at the par-3 fourth and the par-4 ninth for tap-in birdies. Creighton tied for second in the field in par-3 scoring (-1).

Conner Lewis was the third Highlander to reach red figures in the final round, charting a 1-under-par 71. He joined Hayden as the only two RU golfers to make the turn under-par on the more difficult inward nine at The Patriot Golf Club. Lewis sank a 30-foot downhill slider at the par-3 15^th to bolster his confidence for the rest of the round. He went on to birdie No. 18 and No. 5 to finish at 224 (80-73-71) and garner sole possession of 25^th.

Nick Brediger overcame a slow start to his final round to go 1-under-par over his last nine holes to tally a 77. The junior from Roanoke, Va., tied for 32^nd at 228 (74-77-77).

Gareth Sargent steadily improved throughout his first appearance at the conference championship as a Highlander. He chalked up three birdies Tuesday en route to a 2-over-par 74. The sophomore tied for 35^th at 229 (78-77-74).

Liberty led wire-to-wire in hoisting its fourth Big South championship in program history. The Flames' 11-under-par 853 was 12 shots clear of Campbell's 1-over-par 865. Paced by championship medalist Austin James' 11-under-par 205, Charleston Southern took third at 4-over-par 868.

Following tournament play, Creighton was named to the Big South all-academic team.

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RADFORD LINEUP
- T8 – Myles Creighton – 217 (74-73-70)
- T14 – Conner Hayden – 220 (78-74-68)
- 25 – Conner Lewis – 224 (80-73-71)
- T32 – Nick Brediger – 228 (74-77-77)
- T35 – Gareth Sargent – 229 (78-77-74)

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Players Mentioned

Nick Brediger: 6' 3"; Junior

Myles Creighton: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Conner Hayden: 5' 11"; Senior

Conner Lewis: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Gareth Sargent: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Nick Brediger
: 6' 3"; Junior

Myles Creighton
: 6' 2"; Sophomore

Conner Hayden
: 5' 11"; Senior

Conner Lewis
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Gareth Sargent
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Radford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned