JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- After making a big jump on Saturday, the Bridgewater College men's golf team scored a 306 to finish 12th at the Camp Lejeune Collegiate despite entering the tournament seeded 16th out of 20 teams.

This is the second straight tournament the Eagles faced high-level competition in a field of many nationally-ranked opponents and exceeded expectations. The men's spring season has already showcased BC improving over 25 spots in the national rankings and can expect to see another jump when the new rankings arrive. 

"It is usually tough to follow up a very good round like yesterday, especially when it's the fourth day of golf," said head coach John Rogers. "For a little while this morning, it looked like the guys might be out of gas, but they pulled it together and came up with another strong performance."

Playing a shotgun start, the Eagles played the back nine first and held a team score of +12 on those first nine holes. The team leader Max Bondurant stumbled briefly going +4 on holes 11-13, but the team rallied at the turn and made six birdies going in to secure a 306 score. Guilford, the fifth-ranked team in the nation, earned the team victory after fending off second-place Oglethorpe in a two-hole playoff. Christopher Newport, Methodist and Averett rounded out the top five teams.

Bondurant finished the round with a 75 on Sunday. After the doldrums on the front nine, he shot two-under par coming in to manage another strong tournament in a national setting. He placed 21st out of 100 golfers and in the past two elite tournament, he has averaged a 74 across his last six rounds with only one round over 78 in the spring season. 

Hayden Hawes played steadily but relied on an almost unbelievable sand game to finish with a 75. He got up and down from bunkers three times and holed out from a fourth bunker which he has now done twice in the last four rounds. Hawes led the Eagles on Sunday with four birdies.

After shrugging off a tough opening round of play, Jack Thome played his two best collegiate rounds to wrap up the weekend. Following yesterday's 74, Thome carded a 76 despite bogeying his final two holes. While the rest of the team struggled to get momentum early in the round, Thome made par on 11 of his first 13 holes.

"It's great to get playing time for four underclassmen, but it is a bonus when the young players start providing scores that keep Bridgewater competitive with the top teams in Division III," noted Rogers.

Logan Douthat had a couple pitches that did not work and pulled some of his longer shots but made a pair of birdies to keep his round in check. The sophomore finished with an 80.

Brandon Washburn struggled with his short game Saturday and Sunday but still pulled it together on the final nine holes at just +2. A highlight for the day was Washburn driving within five feet on a short par-4 hole 6 and barely missing a putt for eagle. Washburn ended his day with an 81, but wrapped up a very successful freshman campaign.

Rogers noted that the Eagles are averaging five strokes better in the spring than in the fall despite playing tougher courses and in tougher conditions during the spring, in addition to high-level competition. He also said the guys seem to be elevating to the next level.

This event completed the regular season for the men's golf team as the Eagles return to the course for the ODAC Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 23-25.