Furman University's Student Newspaper

The Paladin

Furman University's Student Newspaper

The Paladin

Furman University's Student Newspaper

The Paladin

Men’s Golf Tees Off Its 2021 Season and Harper Takes Individual Win

The Paladin talks with Men’s Golf a standout about the start to their season.
Scoring+4-under+par+212%2C+Harper+earned+co-champion+honors%2C+tying+for+first.
Furman Athletics
Scoring 4-under par 212, Harper earned co-champion honors, tying for first.

Furman Men’s Golf hit the course on Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 22-23), competing in the Pinnacle Bank Intercollegiate at the Palmetto Hall Golf and Country Club in Hilton Head, SC. The Paladins sent out a five-player line-up consisting of fifth-year senior Keller Harper, junior Jack Crosby and sophomores Ross Funderburke, Walker Crosby and Reynolds Lambert. The Paladins were eager to get back out there after almost a year without college competition.  

Throughout the two-day tournament, the team played 54 holes and recorded an overall score of 875 with rounds of 293-297-285. Carding the lowest score of the day on Tuesday, the Paladins ended the tournament strongly, leading the field in birdies and placing third overall, behind Charleston Southern and Augusta.  

Reflecting on the tournament, fifth-year senior Keller Harper, commented on how great it felt to finally be back on the course with his teammates after such a long layoff from college golf. “We were lucky to be able to play individual tournaments during the shutdown but getting back to playing with the team is a great feeling and something we have been looking forward to since August”, he stated. When asked how the team has been preparing for the 2021 season, Harper noted how they have been “working hard both physically and mentally”. He described the “great schedule of practice and qualifying along with the great workout plan” that they have been given in order for their bodies and minds to be ready for a long season.  

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Harper fired a tournament-low score of 67 on Tuesday, moving up four places on the individual leader board. Scoring 4-under par 212, Harper earned co-champion honors, tying for first with Brandon Einstein from High Point. Securing the win in this tournament is no mean feat and means that Keller now holds three collegiate tournament wins, tying with his head coach, Matt Davidson, who also holds three tournament titles from his time as a Paladin golfer from 1999 to 2004. One more win will tie Harper in second for all-time tournament wins.  

Commenting on the positive tournament it was for him as an individual, Harper stated, “It feels good to start the season with a win. I was fortunate to play my best round of the week on the last day and I look forward to carrying that momentum to the upcoming tournaments.” However, Keller recognizes that his individual win does not diminish the importance of the team and their collective goals. On this point, he said, “I’m looking forward to playing some great tournaments with our team and continuing to work hard as a group to achieve our goals. I believe we have a great chance to put ourselves in a position to win tournaments throughout the spring and continue to improve as a team.”  

After such a positive weekend for the whole team, Furman Men’s Golf has shown how high their potential is and looks forward to seeing how the 2021 season plays out. The team returns to the course Mar. 1-2 when they will travel to Pinehurst, NC for the Wake Forest Invitational.

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