Wallace State golf wins Central Alabama Invitational to conclude fall season, Atchley claims low medalist honors
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s seventh-ranked golf team has made sure its offseason is filled with tons of momentum. The Lions knocked off Faulkner State and defending national champion Central Alabama earlier this week in Alexander City, winning the Central Alabama Invitational by five strokes at Willow Point Country Club.
Wallace State finished with a two-round score of 587, winning by five strokes over Faulkner State (592).
Sophomore Chris Atchley, a Buckhorn graduate, was the tournament’s low medalist after shooting a 3-under 141 (71-70). Atchley also earned a low medalist honor at the 2013 ACCC/Region 22 tournament in May and was a first-team All-Region selection.
Wallace State stared the fall season in September as the runner-up to Central Alabama in its own invitational. The Lions were more than thrilled to return the favor, closing out the fall with a bang.
“Our guys have gotten better as a team as the season has progressed. It’s special to beat Central Alabama on its home course, along with many other quality teams like Faulkner State and Eastern Florida,” said Wallace State golf coach Dan York, a NJCAA Hall of Famer. “The win definitely gives our guys a lot of confidence and makes offseason workouts a little easier for them.”
Wallace State’s Aksel Olsen, the NJCAA Division I defending individual national champion, finished in fourth place (71-75) and Cooper Brown finished eighth. Patrick Twesme and Will McDowell rounded out the field for the Lions.
Also this week, Olsen, Twesme and sophomore Jake Miller all inked with four-year colleges during the early signing period. Olsen signed with the University of South Florida, Twseme with UNA and Miller with Samford University. Atchley is expected to sign with Troy University soon.
When Olsen won his individual national championship in May, Wallace State finished seventh overall as a team. York believes his team has the potential to improve on that finish if the Lions continue to get better.
“We’ve got to work on getting other guys involved once the spring season approaches. We’ll have to count on each other to pick up the slack when Aksel Olsen and Chris Atchley have off days. Those two guys have a long way to go as well,” York said. “If we continue to get better, I feel we can compete with anyone nationally.”
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
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Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu
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Kristen Holmes
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Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
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Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu