Esnault prevails in three-way playoff; Men’s Golf wins silver in first spring test

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Paul Esnault bagged his second career title at the Bearcat Spring Invitational as the Catawba College men's golf team took home a runner-up finish.

Esnault wrapped up the second round with an 18th-hole eagle to shoot even par before firing a 71 in the finale, rising into the top spot alongside Oscar Abrahamsson and Holt Allison at 213 (-3). Replaying hole No. 18 in a playoff, Esnault birdied while his opponents made par to claim the crown outright.

Allan Lockwood had the best tournament of his Catawba career with a par score of 216 to climb into T-5th place and earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Pranay Kapur's even-par final round was his finest of the event as he wound up T-12th at 219 (+3). Also parring the third time around was Ilia Antoniadis whose 220 (+4) cracked the Top 20 in T-18th place as the final team scorer.

Connor Carter chalked up a consistent 228 (+12) with each round in the 70s, while Luke Nelson was similarly steady in T-48th at 231 (+15) with a 75 to end the event and mark his second-best round of the year.

At even par, Wingate won the team competition by four shots with a team score of 864. Catawba (868, +4) and USC Aiken (869, +5) each rose one spot in the final 18 holes to take home podium finishes.

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Catawba competes in the Sherman B. Smith Memorial Golf Tournament at Cateechee Golf Club in Hartwell, Ga. on Feb. 17 and 18.