Senior Mark Connelly was one of three Hawks to shoot even-par 72 in the third round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship on Thursday. Entering Friday's final round, Huntingdon is tied for first.

Posted: May 16, 2019

Huntingdon tied for 1st entering final round of NCAA Tournament

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – The Huntingdon men's golf team made another big push in the third round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship on Thursday.

The second-ranked Hawks shot 10 strokes better than any other team in the tournament on Thursday with a 2-over-par 290. Entering Friday's final round at Keene Trace Golf Club, the Hawks are tied for first with a 16-over 880 in the first three rounds.

With 18 holes to play, Huntingdon is tied with third-ranked Illinois Wesleyan. Sixth-ranked Guilford College is two strokes behind the leaders with an 18-over 882 and fourth-ranked Wittenberg is fourth at 31-over 895.

Three Hawks shot even-par 72 in the third round to pace Huntingdon. Senior Mark Connelly turned in his best round of the tournament with an even-par 72 and junior Drew Mathers and senior Stephen Shephard each shot even-par 72.

Mathers, the second-ranked golfer in Division III, is two strokes off the tournament lead with a 1-under 215 through 54 holes. Shephard, the third-ranked golfer in Division III is six strokes off the lead and tied for eighth with a 3-over 219. Connelly is tied for 39^th with a 12-over 228.

Thursday's round was the 20^th round of par-or-better for Mathers this season and the 19^th round of par-or-better for Shephard.

Senior Henry Gee shot 2-over 74 on Thursday and is tied for 13^th with a 6-over 222 entering the final round. Freshman Carson Whitton shot 77 in the third round and is tied for 51^st with a 15-over 231 for the tournament.

Williams College's Sam Goldenring leads the field with a 3-under 213 through three rounds.

Coming Up: Huntingdon will play in the final round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship on Friday.