DESTIN, Fla. - The 20th ranked NC Wesleyan College Golf team finished in 17th place at the GolfWeek D3 Fall Invitational that was held all week at the Raven GC in Sandestin, FL. The tournament consisted of most of the top 20 teams currently ranked in the nation.

After struggling to first and second round scores of 304 and 303 on Sunday and Monday, the Bishops came back with a very strong round three on Tuesday as they posted the 7th-best team score of the day with a 284, 19 strokes better than their earlier rounds.

This helped pull them within a few shots of placing in the top 15 of the elite tournament which was won by defending national champ #2 Illinois Wesleyan who edged out #3 Huntingdon College with under par scores.

Sophomore Frankie Schmitt led the Bishops with a 26th place finish out of the 90-man field. He shot a 2-over 73 in the first round Sunday followed by a 4-over 75 in round two Monday before coming back with a stellar 3 under par 68 on Tuesday that included 6 birdies and a 4 under 32 on the back 9.

Senior Luke Thornton then placed next for the Bishops in 69th as he improved by 7 strokes from his earlier round scores of 78 to post an even-par 71 on Tuesday including 4 birdies. Fellow senior Dustin Wood then came next finishing in a tie for 74th with a 228 as he improved by 3 shots on each day going from 79 to 76 to 73 with 4 birdies and a 33 on the front 9 on Tuesday.

Freshman Luis Zurita then came in 79th but that was because of his first round 84. His next two rounds were a 3-over 74 and a 1 over 72 as he improved greatly throughout the week. Senior Nico Strafe opened up with a 74 before falling back some with rounds of 82 and 80 on the week. 

The Bishop Golfers will finish up the fall season with a tournament hosted by Guilford College in Greensboro on October 28-29.