SAINT HELENA ISLAND, S.C. (April 23, 2024) – The Charleston men’s golf team won its seventh CAA title in 10 opportunities by closing out a tournament-record 35-under performance at the Cotton Dike Course on Dataw Island, just outside historic Beaufort, SC.
The private, gated community has a longstanding tradition of supporting young athletes, and the tradition continues with this year's College Golf Championship. Members will again host some teams for overnight accommodations throughout their competition, and many others came out to cheer them on.
Charleston, which previously won four straight titles from 2014-17 and back-to-back in 2021 and 2022, matched the tournament single-round record of 16-under set by UNCW on Friday to complete the week five shots clear of the Cougars’ tournament record set on this course in 2021. Charleston now holds the four best 54-hole scores in the history of the Championship with three of them in the three tournaments played fully on the Cotton Dike Course.
Kieron van Wyk and Zach Reuland tied the tournament 54-hole record of 13-under previously set by Old Dominion’s Geoff Harris in 2003 and matched by Reuland in 2021 and van Wyk in 2022; they were declared co-medalists of the event with both players on the team earning the automatic qualifier to NCAA Regionals. The pair finished one shot ahead of Elon’s Garrett Risner, who eagled 18 to finish at 12-under – the best score in tournament history by a non-medalist. Elon’s Jack Wieler and UNCW’s Gray Mitchum finished tied for fourth at 8-under.
Elon closed the tournament seven shots off Charleston’s team score, with UNCW 11 shots back of the lead. Campbell, Delaware, and Drexel followed, with Towson climbing two spots to seventh on the tournament’s final day. William & Mary, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T, and Hofstra completed the team leaderboard in the 11-team event.
Reuland and Risner’s 66s were the best rounds of the day at Dataw, while Charleston’s Nevill Ruiter carded a 67, and van Wyk, Drexel’s Griffin Mitchell, and Towson’s Sky Aung all turned in 4-under 68s. Four teams were under par on Tuesday; Charleston’s 16-under led the way, with UNCW at 7-under, Elon at 5-under, and Towson at 2-under.
Charleston and any additional individual qualifiers will learn their NCAA Regional destinations when the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship Selection Show is televised on Golf Channel on Wednesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. Regionals in 2024 will be hosted by Texas, LSU, North Carolina, San Diego, Stanford, and Purdue.
2024 CAA Men’s Golf Championship
Dataw Island –Cotton Dike Course – Saint Helena Island, S.C.
Par-72 – 6,849 yards
Team Standings
1. Charleston 276-281-272-829
2. Elon 274-279-283=836
3. UNCW 272-287-281=840
4. Campbell 280-284-293=857
5. Delaware 289-290-293=872
6. Drexel 287-294-297=878
7. Towson 305-295-286=886
8. William & Mary 294-294-301=889
9. Monmouth 295-301-309=905
10. North Carolina A&T 300-311-301=912
11. Hofstra 305-315-323=923
Dataw Island is a private golf, tennis, and boating lifestyle community located fifteen minutes outside of historic downtown Beaufort. The island features golf courses by designers Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills, a tennis center, brand new pickleball courts, a full-service marina, a community center with workout and massage facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, three restaurants, croquet lawns, bocce courts, and more. The community has also been ranked the number one best retirement destination in South Carolina by Best Retirement Destinations and is the recipient of the SCGA “Club of the Year,” Hilton Head Monthly Magazine “Top 25 Golf Community,” Connecticut Cottages & Gardens “Where to Buy Next,” and many other notable awards. Please visit us online to learn more: www.dataw.com
