Pearse Lucas/Men's Golf | The University Of The South
Pearse Lucas/Men's Golf | The University Of The South
Pearse Lucas of the University of the South men's golf team wrapped up 2022 by participating in the 12th Annual Patriot All-America Invitational. The 54-hole championship took place from Dec. 29-31, 2022 at The Wigwam Golf Resort.
Limited to 84 male players, invitations were sent to PING All-America honors during the 2021-22 season from the NCAA, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Lucas was named a Second Team All-American last season. Additionally, he was named the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, which is given to the top first-year player in the nation.
Over the three-day event, the Charlotte, North Carolina native posted a 42nd-place finish of 215 (66-76-73). The sophomore's five-under in the opening round was tied for the top spot after 18 holes with Ben Lorenz of the University of Oklahoma and David Nyfjall of Northwestern University (Ill.).
Lucas chipped in 12 birdies, including seven in the opening round, and successfully parred 28 of the 54 holes.
Of the 84 players in the field, the reigning Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Player and Newcomer of the Year was the only participant from NCAA Division III. In total, 12 players at the event were from non-NCAA Division I institutions, of which Lucas was fourth-best.
The unique aspect of this Championship is that it honors our military heroes. At the opening ceremony, each golfer receives and carries a commemorative PING golf bag that bears the name and branch of a fallen or wounded hero.
Lucas was playing for U.S. Army Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh of Newport, North Carolina. Assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, North Carolina National Guard in Wilmington, Sgt. Badeosingh died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle on June 29, 2009, in Baghdad, Afghanistan.
Additionally, all of the golfers have the opportunity to visit Luke Air Force Base, the training center for our nation's F-16 and F-35 fighter pilots. There, they meet with the General, fighter pilots and crew, and tour the base.
Lucas, who is averaging 73 strokes in 11 rounds so far in 2022-23, is ranked 24th nationally in the final GolfStat rankings of the fall.
The University of the South men's golf team, ranked 18th in the nation in the coaches poll and 19th in the GolfStat rankings, will begin the spring season in March.
Original source can be found here
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