Mercer University
Irish Creek Invitational
Beale Claims Individual Medalist Honors at Irish Creek
4/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Mercer sophomore James Beale fired a collegiate career best 64 (-8) in Sunday's final round of the Irish Creek Invitational, finishing first among 75 competitors at the event. As a team, Mercer's final round 278 placed the team third of 13 teams.
Mercer's three-day total of 843 was four strokes behind Duke for second place while Kent State (825) claimed the top spot. UNC Charlotte (849) and Virginia Commonwealth (859) rounded out the top five.
"James is playing great," Mercer head coach Steven Bradley said. "In his last three events, he's had his first top-10, first top-5 and now a win. I'm very happy with the way we played and to beat a team like Charlotte on their home course is great. We are getting better and it's positive to see from a coaching perspective."
Beale's 64 was the lowest 18-hole score for any individual at the event and marked his 11th sub-par round of the season. Beale's final round 64 combined with back-to-back 68's on the opening day of competition and placed him two strokes ahead of Duke's Julian Suri for the individual title.
Beale's performance was his first individual title of his collegiate career and was Mercer's first individual championship since Josh Cone won last year's Frito Lay AT&T Intercollegiate.
Cone had Mercer's next best finish at the Irish Creek Invitational, tying for 17th overall after posting an even-par 72 on Sunday. His Sunday 72 was his second straight even-par round at the event after shooting 69 in the opening round.
Freshman Trey Rule and junior Thomas Holmes also shot 72 in the final round of play. Rule's 72 brought his tournament score to 214 and tied him for 20th place while Holmes finished in a tie for 43rd overall with a score of 221.
Sophomore Hans Reimers carded his best score of the event on Sunday, shooting a 70. Reimers' 70 helped him finish at 217 and tied him for 29th overall.
Mercer returns to action at the Atlantic Sun Championship on April 16. The three-day event is scheduled for competition at the Legends Course of Chateau Elan in Braselton, Ga.
