PAWLEY'S ISLAND, S.C. – The UConn men's golf team had a pair of golfers in the top-10 on the way to a second place finish at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge at the True Blue Golf Club in Pawley's Island, S.C. on Wednesday.
The Huskies used a scorching second round performance to rocket up the leaderboard and end up finishing just five strokes behind champion St. John's over the three-day tournament. UConn was tied for 11th place in the 17-team field after a first round total of 287 on Monday. The Huskies came storming back on Tuesday and fired a 275, matching the Red Storm for the lowest team round of the tournament. UConn closed it out on Wednesday shooting a 284 to finish with a three-round score 846 (-4), their lowest team score this spring, and second lowest of the season.
UConn was led by junior Connor Goode (Glastonbury, CT) and senior Vikram Konanki (Newton, MA) who finished fourth and tied for eighth, respectively. Goode tied his highest finish of the season and was under par in all three rounds, shooting a season low 208 (70-67-71), eight under.
For Goode, it marked third top-10 finish this season and his 67 during round two was one stroke off his season-low. He has played 14 of his 26 rounds under par this season. He was among the tournament leaders on the par 4's, averaging 3.83 (-4) and on the par 5's, averaging 4.60 (-6) for the week. He tied for fourth in the field with 14 birdies in the tournament.
Konanki turned in a career-best performance for UConn, posting his highest career finish, lowest round and lowest three-round score. Konanki tied for eighth in the field after shooting 210 (74-65-71) to finish six-under. His second round 65 was the lowest round of his four-year career and tied teammate Ray Dennehy (Princeton, MA) for the lowest round by a Husky this season.
He finished the tournament among the best in the field playing the par 3's, averaging 2.93 (-1). He was second among all golfers with 16 birdies over the three days.
Sophomore Alex Heard (Boca Raton, FL) finished just outside the top-20, shooting two-under (214) for the tournament. Heard had a 75 on Monday but rebounded with a 69 and 70 over the final two rounds to tie for 21st. Heard tied for third in the field with 39 pars over the tournament.
UConn's lineup was round out by sophomore Bradley Sawka (Ellington, CT) who tied for 41st at 218 (71-75-72) and senior Dennehy who finished tied for 56th at 221 (72-74-75). Senior Eric Boulger (Walpole, MA), playing as an individual, finished tied for 33rd at 217 (73-73-71).
The Huskies are next in action when they head to Penn State on April 12 and 13 for The Rutherford Invitational.
Latest Men's Golf
- Huskies Playing in Golfweek/Stifel Spring ChallengeSTORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's golf team heads back to South Carolina for the second time in the last three tournaments as they take part in the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge events at the True Blue Golf Club in Pawleys Island.
- Huskies Take 3rd at ECU IntercollegiateGREENVILLE, N.C. - The UConn golf team took home a third place finish at the ECU Intercollegiate at Brook Valley on Tuesday. The Huskies finished up third in the 16 team field over three rounds at the Brook Valley CC.
- Alex Heard Named BIG EAST Golfer of the WeekSTORRS, Conn. - UConn sophomore Alex Heard (Boca Raton, FL) has been named the BIG EAST Golfer of the Week announced by the league office on Monday. Heard garners his first career weekly conference honor after a stellar performance at the Dorado Beach Collegiate tournament.
- Huskies Ready for ECU IntercollegiateSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's golf team jumps right back in action playing in The ECU Intercollegiate at Brook Valley on Monday and Tuesday at the Brook Valley CC in Greenville, NC.
- Huskies Take Third at Surf Club InviteNORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The UConn men's golf team took third place overall at the weather shortened Surf Club Invitational on Tuesday at The Surf Golf and Beach Club course.
- HUSKIES OUT TO DEFEND SURF CLUB TITLESTORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's golf team returns to action this week playing in the Surf Club Invitational in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Huskies are the defending champions at the event, taking home last season's trophy after a dominating 14-stroke win over the field.
