SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Georgia Southern men's golf team put together two strong rounds on Monday and then closed strong on Tuesday in tough and rainy conditions to finish in a tie for sixth place at the Fighting Irish Classic, hosted by Notre Dame. Transfer Morgan Blythe shot a 3-under-par 207 to tie for fifth place and Thomas Horne shot even par to place 11th to lead the way for the Eagles.

In Monday's first round, Horne (playing as an individual) led the way with a 68 on the par-70 course with Blythe firing a 69. Horne and Parker Claxton both had five birdies in the round to lead the way. In the second round of the day, the Eagles put together a strong team effort, shooting up the leaderboard with a 277, seven shots better than their first round. Harrison Sewell led the way with a 68 featuring six birdies and Claxton shot a 69 with Blythe and Trace Carter both posting pars. In the round, the Eagles posted 20 birdies, including five on the par-5 fifth hole and four on the par-4 first hole.

Tuesday's round was delayed due to heavy rain in the area and conditions were tough for all 16 teams. The Eagles finished strong with 11 birdies down the stretch to close the gap and finish in a tie for sixth place with Power 4 teams Tennessee and Iowa. UCLA won the event with North Carolina coming in second. Georgia Southern was the highest-finishing Group of 6 school in the tournament.

Claxton led the way ith 12 birdies (T-2 in the field) with Horne pouring in 11 (T-8 in the field) and Sewell carding 10 (T-16 in the field). In all, the six-man squad recorded 51 birdies with Horne (9), Pierce Adamson (5) and Carter (4) also contributing to the cause. Blythe's 39 pars were tied for second in the field.

Blythe finished tied for fourth on the par 4s (-1) while Claxton finished tied for fourth on the par 3s (-1) and tied for fifth on the par 5s with Horne (-4).

Claxton earned yet another top-25 finish, placing in a tie for 23rd while Sewell finished in a tie for 29th.

Words From Coach Carter Collins:
"Monday's 36 holes of golf was one of the best days that we have had in this program for the last two years. It was outstanding golf from top to bottom and it put us in a very good position against an elite field on a great golf course.

"I take full accountability for not coaching the team better in the tough conditions of the final round to finish off this tournament, but we all definitely took some big steps forward. When conditions were rough today, we pressed when we should have been more patient. That's my job to get them in that head space and I have to do better.

"I love the energy, the togetherness and the talent of this team. Great things have already happened this year and they are also ahead.

"We are very close to putting it together and getting another team win on the year, and I'm looking forward to the next opportunity."

Fighting Irish Classic - Oct. 6-7
Warren Golf Course • Notre Dame, Ind.
Par 70 • 15 teams, 84 individuals

Team - 284-277-291=852 (+12), T6
Morgan Blythe - 69-70-68=207 (-3), T5
Thomas Horne* - 68-71-71=210 (E), 11
Parker Claxton - 70-69-75=214 (+4), T23
Harrison Sewell - 71-68-76=215 (+5), T29
Pierce Adamson - 74-73-72=219 (+9), T53
Trace Carter - 74-70-77=221 (+11), T58
*Played as an individual

Up Next: Bash In The Boro - Oct. 13-14 - Georgia Southern University Golf Course