Dukes Win Team Title at Autotrader Classic

Monday, October 14

Berkeley Hills CC | Duluth, Ga.

James Madison University

Autotrader Collegiate Classic

Team Trophy Celebration Autotrader Georgia State 101519

10/15/2019 3:32:00 PM | Men's Golf

@JMUMGolf JMU MG on Instagram Final Results 2019-20 Schedule

DULUTH, Ga. - The James Madison men's golf team captured its second team title in its last three tournaments on Tuesday afternoon, posting the second-lowest final round in the field to take home a five-stroke victory at the Autotrader Collegiate Classic, hosted by Georgia State at the par-72, 6,706-yard Berkeley Hills Country Club.

The Dukes stormed out of the gates, playing their opening nine in four-under before holding off second-place Lipscomb down the stretch on their way to a final-round 283 (-5) that pushed them a full five strokes clear of the 13-team field and earned them their second trophy of 2019-20.

The victory marked the 14th of Head Coach Jeff Forbes' career at the helm of JMU Men's Golf, making him the winningest head coach in program history, just ahead of Paul Gooden, who finished his men's coaching career with 13 career victories.

Sophomore George Heath continued his stellar play, closing out his week in sole possession of runner-up honors at the 78-player event with a final-round 71 (-1). His career-low score of 206 (-10) was tied for the sixth-lowest 54-hole score to-par in program history.

Junior Ignacio Montero led the charge on Tuesday for the Dukes, firing a 68 (-4) in his final round to climb into a tie for seventh, giving him two top-10 finishes already this year. Freshman Neal Shipley picked up the first such finish of his career, carding a final-round 69 (-3) to tie with Montero in seventh at 210 (-6).

Sophomore Nick Schlickenrieder closed out the JMU scoring for the day, carding a 75 (+3) to finish tied for 54th (225, +9), while senior Walker Cress finished tied for 26th (219, +3) after a final-round 76 (+4).

Playing as an individual, sophomore Ignacio De Pineda picked up his second career top-10 finish, firing a final-round 69 (-3) to climb into sole possession of ninth place at 211 (-5) for the week.

QUOTING COACH FORBES
"We're always happy to bring a trophy home and I'm really happy with the way the guys battled today. There were some moments coming down the stretch when we got a little sloppy, so we know we have things to work on, but we'll enjoy this before getting back to work to close out our fall season."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will be off next week before closing out the fall portion of their 2019-20 campaign on Oct. 28-29, when they travel to the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. to take part in the Intercollegiate at Innisbrook.