The University of Mississippi Athletics
Tuesday, September 27
Birmingham, Ala. | Old Overton Golf Club
Ole Miss
vs
South Carolina
Men’s Golf Defeats South Carolina 3-2 In SEC Match Play Finale
9/27/2022 | Men's Golf
Hugo Townsend Secured Match-Winning Point on Hole 18
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – The No. 7 seed Ole Miss men's golf team took down the No. 11 seed South Carolina 3-2 during the final day of the SEC Match Play event from Old Overton Club.
Jack Gnam, Tom Fischer, and Hugo Townsend each won their individual matches to lock up the team match for Ole Miss. Gnam and Fischer led throughout the entire match, while Townsend battled back from a deficit on his final two holes to claim victory.
"We had a great match with South Carolina today that came down to the last hole and the last putt to win. Hugo was amazing down the stretch and showed a lot of heart to win both 17 and 18," said head coach Chris Malloy. "That's why we played this format this fall to give our teams this kind of simulation for what we will see in match play in the spring. We have a quick turnaround before we head to our next event, so we need to get back and get better this week."
Gnam got the first points on the board against the Gamecocks, taking down South Carolina veteran Evans Lewis 3 & 2. Gnam stayed consistent and never let up against Lewis as he won his first two holes and never looked back as he gained a 4-up lead twice in the match.
Fischer battled in the front nine with South Carolina's Gene Zeigler as Zeigler put a 1-up lead for three holes, but it didn't last long for the freshman. Fischer tied the match back up on Hole 6 with a birdie and then secured a par on the following hole to take the lead. Fischer led the rest of the match and cruised to a 3 & 2 victory to put Ole Miss' second point on the board.
With the Rebels and Gamecocks tied up at 2-2, it all came down to Townsend who was the final man standing in match play. Townsend started out with a birdie on Hole 1 to gain a lead against South Carolina's Lansdon Robbins, but then pursued in a back-and-forth battle in the front nine between the Gamecock leading and the Rebel tying the match up. Heading into the final holes, Robbins had a 1-up lead, but Townsend held par on Hole 17 to tie it up. On the final hole, Townsend took advantage of Robbins' bogey to secure the final point.
The Rebels will head home with a win in match play and a tie for 8th stroke play finish to wrap up the SEC Match Play event. Ole Miss now prepares for The Blessings Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-5) where they will compete alongside the Rebel women.
For updates throughout the tournament, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf. Additional updates and information on the team can be found on Instagram at OleMissMGolf, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf and on OleMissSports.com.
MATCH PLAY: Ole Miss 3, South Carolina 2 (results in order of finish)
Jack Gnam (Ole Miss) defeated Evan Lewis (South Carolina) 3 & 2
Tom Fischer (Ole Miss) defeated Gene Zeigler (South Carolina) 3 & 2
Rafe Reynolds (South Carolina) defeated Sarut Vongchaisit (Ole Miss) 3 & 2
Nathan Franks (South Carolina) defeated Cameron Tankersley (Ole Miss) 2 & 1
Hugo Townsend (Ole Miss) defeated Landson Robbins (South Carolina) 1-UP
TEAM RESULTS
Arkansas 5, Kentucky 0
LSU 3, Missouri 2
Ole Miss 3, South Carolina 2
Florida 3, Mississippi State 2
Alabama 3, Georgia 2
Texas A&M 3, Auburn 2
Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 2
Jack Gnam, Tom Fischer, and Hugo Townsend each won their individual matches to lock up the team match for Ole Miss. Gnam and Fischer led throughout the entire match, while Townsend battled back from a deficit on his final two holes to claim victory.
"We had a great match with South Carolina today that came down to the last hole and the last putt to win. Hugo was amazing down the stretch and showed a lot of heart to win both 17 and 18," said head coach Chris Malloy. "That's why we played this format this fall to give our teams this kind of simulation for what we will see in match play in the spring. We have a quick turnaround before we head to our next event, so we need to get back and get better this week."
Gnam got the first points on the board against the Gamecocks, taking down South Carolina veteran Evans Lewis 3 & 2. Gnam stayed consistent and never let up against Lewis as he won his first two holes and never looked back as he gained a 4-up lead twice in the match.
Fischer battled in the front nine with South Carolina's Gene Zeigler as Zeigler put a 1-up lead for three holes, but it didn't last long for the freshman. Fischer tied the match back up on Hole 6 with a birdie and then secured a par on the following hole to take the lead. Fischer led the rest of the match and cruised to a 3 & 2 victory to put Ole Miss' second point on the board.
With the Rebels and Gamecocks tied up at 2-2, it all came down to Townsend who was the final man standing in match play. Townsend started out with a birdie on Hole 1 to gain a lead against South Carolina's Lansdon Robbins, but then pursued in a back-and-forth battle in the front nine between the Gamecock leading and the Rebel tying the match up. Heading into the final holes, Robbins had a 1-up lead, but Townsend held par on Hole 17 to tie it up. On the final hole, Townsend took advantage of Robbins' bogey to secure the final point.
The Rebels will head home with a win in match play and a tie for 8th stroke play finish to wrap up the SEC Match Play event. Ole Miss now prepares for The Blessings Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 3-5) where they will compete alongside the Rebel women.
For updates throughout the tournament, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf. Additional updates and information on the team can be found on Instagram at OleMissMGolf, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf and on OleMissSports.com.
MATCH PLAY: Ole Miss 3, South Carolina 2 (results in order of finish)
Jack Gnam (Ole Miss) defeated Evan Lewis (South Carolina) 3 & 2
Tom Fischer (Ole Miss) defeated Gene Zeigler (South Carolina) 3 & 2
Rafe Reynolds (South Carolina) defeated Sarut Vongchaisit (Ole Miss) 3 & 2
Nathan Franks (South Carolina) defeated Cameron Tankersley (Ole Miss) 2 & 1
Hugo Townsend (Ole Miss) defeated Landson Robbins (South Carolina) 1-UP
TEAM RESULTS
Arkansas 5, Kentucky 0
LSU 3, Missouri 2
Ole Miss 3, South Carolina 2
Florida 3, Mississippi State 2
Alabama 3, Georgia 2
Texas A&M 3, Auburn 2
Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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