Harrisonburg, Va. - North Carolina Wesleyan's golf team opened its 2013 fall season on Saturday and Sunday at the annual Tom Kinder Memorial hosted by Bridgewater College.  The Bishops shaved 14 strokes off their day one total with an impressive 304 in the final round, finishing tied for 6th-place among 18 teams competing -- a marked improvement from last year's 14th-place showing against nearly identical competition.

The two-day event was held at the par-72 Lakeview Golf Club, a 6500-yard course located in Harrisonburg, Va.

The Bishops had previously shot a 318 on Saturday and found themselves in 11th place after one round of play. Junior transfer Chris Freeman carded a team-best 76 in his NCWC debut, while Lucas Norman followed one stroke behind at 77.

It was a total team effort to climb five spots on Sunday's leaderboard with a total of 304, which tied for the 3rd best team score on the day. Norman and senior Allen-Michael Wilson each turned in a solid 2-over 74, with Freeman again carding a 76. Junior Stephen Bardswick was also five strokes better on Sunday at 88, while Raul de Leon rounded out Wesleyan's scorers with an 86.

Hampden-Sydney College took home the team trophy with two sub-300 rounds to finish at 13-over (589). Host Bridgewater finished second, and medalist honors went to the Eagles' Matt Dye with rounds of 71 and 72 to finish at 1-under.

Norman's 7-over performance placed him tied for 16th among the 90-man field, while Freeman was one stroke behind and finished tied for 21st. Wilson (+10) also placed himself in the top third of the bracket in 27th-place.

Next up for the Bishops is the Neuse Invitational hosted by Johnston Community College on September 23rd and 24th. The two-round tourney will be held at The Neuse Golf Club in Clayton, N.C.