Savannah State sophomore Jaden Saunders had an incredible third round on Wednesday, carding a 72 to win low medalist honors at the 2023 Cricket Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Golf Championship Tournament.The Savannah State men’s golf team finished runner-up by one stroke in the tournament. The three-round championship was played Monday-Wednesday on the Mountain View Course at Callaway Gardens Golf Course in Pine Mountain, Georgia. On Wednesday, the conference announced Mark Greene was this year’s Elite 14 Honoree for men’s golf. The award recognizes a student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC Championship level while also achieving the highest academic standard. Greene, a business marketing major, has a 4.0 GPA. Saunders opened Wednesday’s final round in second place after shooting even through the first two rounds. He trailed Spring Hill College’s Rasmus Malmborg, who was six-under par. His teammate Korbin Allan was just behind him in third place, at two-over par. Through the first nine holes, Saunders was even, paring all nine. Malmborg had some issues on the front nine though, costly bogies on holes three and six and a tough double on four. Saunders birdied holes 11 and 12 to take the lead, moving to two-under par as Malmborg continued to struggle. A triple bogie on 13 for the Spring Hill junior all but sealed up the win for Saunders. Despite bogies on 15 and 18, Saunders finished with an even 72 in the final round to claim low medalist honors for the tournament. Saunders opened with a one-over-par 73 in day one and then shot a one-under-par 71 in the second round. He won with a three-round total of 216. The Tigers shot 905 (297, 301, 307) to finish runner-up in the team leaderboard. Spring Hill took top honors with a three-round 904 (293, 293, 318). Kentucky State finished third with a 905 followed by Miles (924), LeMoyne-Owen (1107) and Morehouse (1302).Allan had a spectacular opening round, leading the entire field with a three-under-par 69 on Monday, thanks to four birdies and an eagle on hole three. On day two, he carded a 77, dropping out of the lead. Allan shot a 78 in round three to finish in fourth place with a three-round 224. Devin Smith finished in the middle of the pack, shooting a three-round 232 (75, 76, 81) followed by Nick Macsuga (237), and Greene (238). Saunders earns the first SIAC Men’s Golf Championship title and the first conference title for the Tigers in school history. In 2011, Ryan Lassiter won low medalist honors in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Golf Showcase, prior to the conference adding golf as an official conference sport. Savannah State finished fourth in last year’s SIAC Championship, their first year competing for a conference title since moving back to NCAA Division II and the SIAC ahead of the 2019 season. The last second place team finish in the SIAC Golf Championship for Savannah State was in 1969. The Savannah State golf program began in 1968 and competed in the SIAC until the conference discontinued the sport in 1980.Savannah State men’s golf close out the 2022-2023 season May 8-May 10 at the 2023 PGA Works Collegiate Championship.
Savannah State sophomore Jaden Saunders had an incredible third round on Wednesday, carding a 72 to win low medalist honors at the 2023 Cricket Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Golf Championship Tournament.
The Savannah State men’s golf team finished runner-up by one stroke in the tournament. The three-round championship was played Monday-Wednesday on the Mountain View Course at Callaway Gardens Golf Course in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
On Wednesday, the conference announced Mark Greene was this year’s Elite 14 Honoree for men’s golf. The award recognizes a student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC Championship level while also achieving the highest academic standard. Greene, a business marketing major, has a 4.0 GPA.
Saunders opened Wednesday’s final round in second place after shooting even through the first two rounds. He trailed Spring Hill College’s Rasmus Malmborg, who was six-under par. His teammate Korbin Allan was just behind him in third place, at two-over par.
Through the first nine holes, Saunders was even, paring all nine. Malmborg had some issues on the front nine though, with costly bogies on holes three and six and a tough double on four.
Saunders birdied holes 11 and 12 to take the lead, moving to two-under par as Malmborg continued to struggle. A triple bogie on 13 for the Spring Hill junior all but sealed up the win for Saunders. Despite bogies on 15 and 18, Saunders finished with an even 72 in the final round to claim low medalist honors for the tournament.
Saunders opened with a one-over-par 73 in day one and then shot a one-under-par 71 in the second round. He won with a three-round total of 216.
The Tigers shot 905 (297, 301, 307) to finish runner-up in the team leaderboard. Spring Hill took top honors with a three-round 904 (293, 293, 318). Kentucky State finished third with a 905 followed by Miles (924), LeMoyne-Owen (1107) and Morehouse (1302).
Allan had a spectacular opening round, leading the entire field with a three-under-par 69 on Monday, thanks to four birdies and an eagle on hole three. On day two, he carded a 77, dropping out of the lead. Allan shot a 78 in round three to finish in fourth place with a three-round 224.
Devin Smith finished in the middle of the pack, shooting a three-round 232 (75, 76, 81) followed by Nick Macsuga (237), and Greene (238).
Saunders earns the first SIAC Men’s Golf Championship title and the first conference title for the Tigers in school history.
In 2011, Ryan Lassiter won low medalist honors in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Golf Showcase, prior to the conference adding golf as an official conference sport.
Savannah State finished fourth in last year’s SIAC Championship, their first year competing for a conference title since moving back to NCAA Division II and the SIAC ahead of the 2019 season.
The last second place team finished in the SIAC Golf Championship for Savannah State was in 1969. The Savannah State golf program began in 1968 and competed in the SIAC until the conference discontinued the sport in 1980.
Savannah State men’s golf closes out the 2022-2023 season May 8-May 10 at the 2023 PGA Works Collegiate Championship.
