March 23, 2022

Trojans Fall Just Shy in Runner-Up Finish

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The 11^th-ranked Taylor men's golf team came up just short in its bid for a come-from-behind victory at the Loyola Wolfpack Invitational.

With winds gusting up to 30 miles-per-hour the 7,051-yard, par-72 layout of Bayou Oaks South Course in New Orleans played extremely challenging for all three rounds.

Taylor entered the final round trailing the host team, Loyola, by three shots following opening round scores of 296 and 306. The Trojans surged to the top of the leaderboard near the midway point of Tuesday's final round before Loyola clawed back to edge TU by two shots to sour the Trojan comeback.

Senior All-American Javan Johnson led the way for the Trojans with a tie for third place. Johnson posted scores of 72-75-78 while making eight birdies.

Sophomore Adam Kasitz earned a top-10 finish of his own, finishing tied for ninth with scores of 77-74-79 while junior Noah Ross finished tied for 11^th with rounds of 73-83-76. Junior Erik Fahlen added a 13^th place finish, firing scores of 74-78-82 while junior Drew Pickering added scores of 82-79-75 to finish tied for 15^th.

The Trojans tied Loyola for the most birdies in the field with 32 while Ross tied for the most birdies individually with nine. TU also led the field in par-5 scoring at 4-under par and finished second in the field with 153 pars as a team.

The Taylor reserve squad also competed with junior Payne Moses leading the way for the Trojans. Moses carded rounds of 79-77-80 to finish tied for 15^th place. Sophomore Austin Davis added a tie for 18^th place with scores of 81-74-82 followed by Jason Iler in 29^th place with scores of 85-79-79. Freshman Tommy McWatters fired scores of 84-86-80 to finish tied for 32^nd while sophomore Lance VanErmen finished in 36^th place with scores of 87-96-82. Senior Sam Yeager finished in 37^th place with tallies of 92-85-90.

Loyola claimed the team title with a 54-hole total of 908 (291-308-309) while the Trojans finished at 910 (296-306-308). Cumberland (TN) finished in third place at 915 (309-300-306) followed by Campbellsville at 920 (311-308-301) and William Carey at 920 (298-309-313).

Taylor will return to action on April 1-2 when the Trojans host the Purgatory Intercollegiate at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblseville, Indiana.