STATESBORO – Benjamin Shipp and No. 21 NC State went wire to wire to take home the team title and medalist honors at the 41st playing of the Schenkel Invitational, which concluded in steady downpour Sunday at Forest Heights Country Club.

NC State (-25) won its first Schenkel title in 34 appearances in the event, and host Georgia Southern (+2) finished second. Furman (+6) was third, FGCU (+9) took fourth and ETSU (+18) placed fifth. 

Georgia Southern has now finished in the top-5 in the last four Schenkel Invitationals and six of the last seven, and the Eagles have won twice and finished runner-up three times during the stretch.

Shipp carded a 68 today and made just four bogeys on the weekend wile registering 18 birdies and an eagle to finish 16-under and cruise to medalist honors by 11 strokes over teammate Maximilian Steinlechner (-5), who tied for second with Christopher Gotterup of Rutgers.

Fifth-year seniors Brett Barron and Jake Maples, who saw the Schenkel canceled last season because of COVID, each shot 74 to lead the Eagle counters today. Barron (-4) tied for fourth, and Maples (+4) tied for 21st. Sparked by a 68 Friday, Ben Carr finished the tournament even and tied for 10th. 

Senior Jacob Bayer posted 70 to lead the Eagle individuals, and freshman Luke Dasher posted a 71 for the second straight day. Bayer made four birdies on the day and shot 33 on the front nine, and Dasher finished his round with a flurry for the second day in a row, shooting 3-under on his final seven holes with birdies at 12, 16 and 18. 

Bayer (+4) tied for 21st in his final Schenkel, and Dasher (-1) placed ninth in his first.

Scores
Team – 275-290-301=866 (+2), 2
Brett Barron – 66-72-74=212 (-4), T4
Ben Carr – 68-70-78=216 (E), T10
Jake Maples – 72-74-74=220 (+4), T21
Colin Bowles – 69-76-77=222 (+6), T29
Mason Williams – 73-74-76=223 (+7), T33

Individuals
Luke Dasher – 73-71-71=215, (-1), 9
Avery Price – 73-73-74=220 (+4), T21
Jacob Bayer – 74-76-70=220 (+4), T21
Wilson Andress – 73-75-77=225 (+9), T46
Lucas Hopkins – 77-74-81=232 (+16), T68

Quotables from Georgia Southern Coach Carter Collins
"I can't think of a better event to help our community return to at least a glimmer of normalcy. This is my favorite event of the year because I get to watch our guys compete on one of the greatest courses in front of the greatest fans on earth. I'm so proud of this team and all they've accomplished through a jam-packed schedule and some crazy weather. These guys stayed the course grinding to the finish, and I'm honored to be their coach."

Next Up
The Eagles travel to the Mountaineer Invitational at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia, April 12-13.