BLUFFTON, S.C. - New lineup. Same tournament. Same course. Same result.

Despite a lineup that featured five new competitors from a year ago, the Georgia Southern men's golf team led wire-to-wire to claim its third straight Colleton River Collegiate held Monday and Tuesday at the Colleton River Golf Club Nicklaus Course, with freshman Brycen Jones earning medalist honors.

Led by Jones' 204 (-12) and three others finishing under par, the Eagles posted a team-best 832 (-32) three-round total to hold off Chattanooga by two shots. The Eagles won the event for the third straight year and the fourth time overall. It was Georgia Southern's second title of the season (Bush Cup match play vs. Army West Point).

In the first round, the Eagles shot their lowest team round of the season with a 272. Jones set the pace with a career-low 65 as he put up a clean card with seven birdies and 11 pars. Reece Coleman wasn't far off the pace as he put up six birdies to card a 67 and Luke Koenig shot a 68 (-4) with eight birdies. Hayden Carner's even-par 72 accounted for the team score.

The second round was suspended on Monday due to darkness and resumed early Tuesday, but when it was over, the team had put up their most complete effort of the season as all six competitors were at, or under, par. Individual Parker Claxton led the way with a 67 (-5) as he carded six birdies to match his low round of the year. Ingram shot his lowest round of the year with a 69 (-3) as he carded five birdies and was matched by Carner's 69 with five birdies. Jones and Coleman both carded 70s and Koenig shot a 72.

In the final round, Jones led the way with a 69 (-3) to earn his first collegiate title. Koenig posted a 70 (-2) and Ingram recorded two clutch birdies late to shoot a 71 (-1). Coleman shot an even-par 72 to round out the scoring for the team. The Eagles shot a final-round, season-low 280 to pull off the win.

The 272 in round one is tied for the 10th-lowest team round in program history. Jones' 65 is tied for the 15th lowest round in program history and is tied with Koenig's 65 at the JT Poston Intercollegiate as the lowest for an Eagle this season.

Jones played the Par 4s at -5 for the week, tied for second in the tournament, while Coleman played the Par 5s at -6, tied for ninth. Jones, Koenig and Ingram tied for second with 15 birdies while Coleman tallied a season-best 14. As a team, Georgia Southern was the only team to play the Par 4s under par for the week, shooting a -6 while the next closest was +4. The Eagles also played the Par 5s at -23 and led the field with a season-best 69 birdies. 

Jones picked up his first collegiate win with a 204, the 19th-lowest three-round tournament total in program history as he posted a 65-70-69 to win by one stroke. 

Words from Coach Carter Collins:
"I'm so proud of the total team effort this week to get the wire-to-wire team victory at Colleton River in a stacked field. 

"Winning in any sport is hard and we don't take it for granted. There were moments in each round where we took punches, but they kept fighting and won the tournament with some late birdies and clutch pars when the team needed them the most. That's the sign of a great team.

"This was a big win for Brycen, as well. He has been knocking on the door a lot in his young career and today he played like a seasoned veteran to win. We are all so proud of him as well.

"This team has a bright future, Hail Southern!!"

The Scores
Team: 272-278-282=832 (-30), 1
Brycen Jones: 65-70-69=204 (-12), 1
Reece Coleman: 67-70-72=209 (-7), T13
Luke Koenig: 68-72-70=210 (-6), T19
Hogan Ingram: 73-69-71=213 (-3), T29
Parker Claxton*: 76-67-73=216 (E), T41
Hayden Carner: 72-69-77=218 (+2), T50
*Played as an individual

Up Next: The Eagles will have a weekend off before hosting the 44th Schenkel Invitational March 15-17 at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro.