One day after shooting the program's best 18-hole record stroke in school history (64), BJ Knox continued his fantastic play Sunday afternoon, firing a two-under 68 to shoot an eight-under 132 over the course of the Alice Lloyd Spring Invitational to earn Medalist honors and lead the Shawnee State men's golf program to its fourth invitational victory of the 2020-21 season Sunday evening in Richmond, Ky.
With its fourth invitational victory, the 2020-21 version of the Shawnee State golf program became just the fifth team in program history -- and the first since the 2001-02 unit -- to win four invitationals in a single campaign. SSU placed each of its five golfers (Knox, Patrick England, Elijah McCarty, Brett Bentley and Steven Zimmerman) in the top half of the 53-player field.
King Me!
A former Mason County Royal, BJ Knox's play continues to build on a career that is easily becoming one of the best in the history of the Shawnee State program.
Following the best round of his collegiate career Saturday afternoon -- where Knox birdied seven holes and posted pars on 10 others -- the ace golfer birdied four additional holes Sunday with his play on the eighth, 10th, 15th and 18th holes of competition while parring 12 additional holes. He cinched the school record for the lowest 36-hole stroke in program history as a result.
With his performances in both rounds, Knox was able to collect a four-stroke victory over Northwestern Ohio's Jamie Mollner. They were the only golfers in the 53-player field to shoot under par for the entire two-day tournament. Knox has now shot in the 70s or better in all 33 of his rounds at Shawnee State.
Consistency Continues:
Patrick England, who joined Knox inside the top-15 overall, capped off another strong weekend as the senior birdied the second and 15th holes while posting 10 pars to boot for a 76 on the second day and a two-day 148 overall. The senior was followed by Brett Bentley and Elijah McCarty, who posted pars on nine holes apiece and posted two-day 152s to tie for 19th place.
Steven Zimmerman, the final golfer in the field, also posted nine pars Sunday. The senior from Piketon finished with a two-day 156 to help boost the Bears on the back end while continuing his own consistent play. He finished 23rd.
As a team, Shawnee State posted a two-day 584 to best Northwestern Ohio by four strokes. IU-East (599), former Mid-South Conference member UVA-Wise (601) -- now an NCAA Division II program -- and Ohio Christian (605) rounded out the top-five overall of the nine teams who participated in the ALC Spring Invitational.
NEXT UP
Shawnee State's men will play in the Earlham Tournament at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3.
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