SPARTANBURG, S.C.  It was smooth sailing for the Methodist men's golf team on day three of the USA South Men's Golf Championship as the Monarchs saved their best round for last, posting a 13-under-par 275. Winning by a gap of 67 strokes, Methodist set a record for largest margin of victory ever recorded in the USA South Men's Golf Championship.


In keeping with the "best for last" theme, four members of the Methodist squad birdied Hole 18, while Cameron Cappuzzo ended the day with an eagle. All five Monarchs captured a spot in the top-10, including co-medalists Cooper Hrabak and Caleb Ryan.  

JUST THE FACTS
Event: 2024 USA South Men's Golf Championship
Course: The Carolina Country Club (Par 72 – 6,781 yards)
Top teams: 1 – Methodist (287-284-275—846; -18), 2 – Greensboro College (306-307-300—913; +49), 3 – North Carolina Wesleyan University (310-301-304—915; +51)
Top individuals:  T1 – Cooper Hrabak, Methodist (69-73-67—209; -7), T1 – Caleb Ryan, Methodist (70-69–70—209; -7), 3 – Cameron Cappuzzo, Methodist (75-69–68—212; -4)
 
FINAL ROUND

• Hrabak recorded the best individual round of the tournament on Wednesday. Ironically, he began the day with a bogey on Hole 1, but he turned that around to finish the day with six birdies, including four on the back nine. At five-under par on the day and seven-under par for the tournament, Hrabak staked his claim in the tie for first place.
• Also posting his best-scoring round of the three-day event, Cameron Cappuzzo sank four birdies, two bogeys and the eagle on 18 to finish the round at four-under par. He finished at four-under par for the tournament, earning a third-place finish.
• With a consistent stroke, Ryan earned a two-under par on the day, shooting one-under on the front nine and one-under on the back half. He carded four birdies and one double bogey – good enough to keep him at the top of the leaderboard. He tied with Hrabak for first place with a seven-under par total.
• Also recording a two-under par on the round, Aiden Spampinato had his best round of the tournament. He shot four-under on the front nine, including an eagle on Hole 7. On the back nine, he finished strong with birdies on two out of the final three holes. Despite being Methodist's lowest finishing golfer, Spampinato still took seventh place on the leaderboard with an eight-over.
• Chase Walts rounded out Methodist's scores at three-over par on Wednesday. The USA South Player of the Year drained three birdies but saw four bogeys and one double bogey, which weighed down his score. None the less, he finished in a tie for fifth at five-over par for the tournament.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs have earned a trip to Boulder City, Nevada for the NCAA Division III Championship. The four-day event will begin on Tuesday, May 14. Currently ranked No. 1 in all of D-III, Methodist is seeking its 14th men's golf national title.