Saulo clutch in dual match at Charleston Southern

Saturday, March 7

Charleston, SC

All Day

Middle Tennessee

Charleston Southern Dual Match

Photo by: Tom Morris

3/7/2020 7:07:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: @MTAthletics

Stroke Play Results
Match Play Results

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Head Men's Golf Coach Mark McEntire led his squad into a one-day dual match against Charleston Southern on Saturday and will fly his team home after a 2-stroke win in stroke play and a 3-2 win in match play against the Buccaneers.

The Blue Raiders started the day at Oak Point Golf Course with 18 holes of stroke play in the morning, and after securing that win moved on to afternoon match play with wins from freshmen Steven Haremski and Michael Barnard as well as junior Ilari Saulo giving MT the sweep.

"Today was a good day for our program," McEntire exclaimed. "The conditions were very tough, but we battled through. Today was exactly what we needed and we hope it helps us turn the corner this season!"

While CSU's Parker Jones took the individual win at 3-under par 69, four Raiders finished tied for third or better in the morning. Saulo led the way with an even par 72 as senior Tanner Owens and freshmen Barnard and Mattias Varjun all carded rounds of 3-over par 75.

Haremski finished two strokes back of that trio at 5-over 77, but tied or defeated three of the five in the CSU lineup as well as another Buccaneer competing as an individual.

With the morning being tightly contested between the two teams, things stayed tight in the afternoon as wins by Barnard (5&4) and Haremski (5&3) coupled with losses by Owens (3&1) and Varjun (4&3) had match play tied up with only one pairing left on the course.

Saulo, one of just two upperclassmen in the lineup for McEntire, saw his match come down to the final hole in Kiawah Island. The veteran came through in the clutch for his team as a he took the final hole to clinch his match 1-up and the team match 3-2.

"This is the way we need Ilari to play to get where we need to go," McEntire added. "His match came down to the last hole and he hit some great shots down the stretch. I hope it gives him a lot more confidence going forward.

"Mike played well and just continues to get better with every rep. Steven also played a great match, winning 5&4 and was 4-under when he clinched."

With the quick trip to start spring break now complete, the Blue Raiders will begin preparation for the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., which takes place at the tail end of spring break on March 13-15.