GREENSBORO, Ga. – ETSU clinched the 2023 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship on Tuesday at the par-72, 7,393-yard Oconee Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. Redshirt sophomore Mats Ege shot a 4-under-par 68 in the third round to claim medalist honors after posting a 14-under 202 for the tournament.
The Buccaneers, who are ranked 34th nationally, held a one-stroke lead over 47th-ranked Chattanooga entering the final round after posting a 36-hole score of 555. The Mocs had a magnificent opening nine roles and were up 11 strokes on ETSU before the turn. ETSU responded on the back nine to earn its third straight crown via a five-stroke victory after shooting a 9-under 279 in the final round to finish with a tournament score of 30-under-par 834. The victory for the Bucs marked the ninth different time a SoCon school has won three straight titles.
Chattanooga finished as the runner-up with a tournament score of 25-under 839. The Mocs sat in second throughout the championship after shooting 277 in the first round, 279 in the second round and 283 in the final round.
Furman finished third after shooting a 13-under 275 in the final round to finish with a tournament score of 21-under-par 843. Western Carolina concluded the tournament in fourth at 2-under 862 and UNCG climbed one spot to finish fifth at even-par 864. Mercer (866), Wofford (875) and Samford (884) rounded out the scoring at sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively.
Ege became ETSU’s 18th SoCon medalist and fifth in the last six tournaments. The Kristiansand, Norway, native held the lead throughout the tournament after posting scores of 66 in the first round, 66 in the second round and 68 on the final round to become the fourth straight Buccaneer to win the individual title. Ege, ranked 70th nationally, led the field with 21 birdies for the tournament and shot 11-under on par-5s.
ETSU’s Matthew Dodd-Berry finished second at 10-under 206, while Furman’s Will Morlan, who is ranked No. 69 nationally, finished third at 9-under-par 207. Morlan shot a 7-under 65 in the final round, which was the best individual round of the championship, to jump five spots on the final day. Chattanooga’s Paul Conroy finished fourth at 8-under 208. Furman’s Sam Lape and the Mocs’ Braedon Wear tied for fifth at 6-under-par 210.
The Bucs’ Jack Tickle III earned the Pinnacle Award as the student-athlete on the championship-winning team with the highest cumulative GPA.
ETSU will learn its postseason destination when the NCAA selection show airs on Wednesday, May 3, at 1 p.m. Eastern on the Golf Channel.