CHUCKEY, Tenn. – Milligan University's men's golf team competed Monday and Tuesday at the Bob Dibble Memorial, hosted by Tusculum University at Graysburg Hills Golf Course. The 54-hole event featured a 15-team field representing eight schools. Graysburg Hills offers 27 holes spread across three distinct nine-hole layouts: Chimney Top, Fodderstack and Knobs. For the tournament, teams played the Knobs course as the opening nine and Fodderstack as the closing nine. In the end, the Buffs finished tied for seventh as team with Johnson University. 

Francisco de Bethencourt played his way to the top of the leaderboard on the opening day, sitting in a tie for first place at seven-under-par 137 through 36 holes. De Bethencourt was especially impressive on the Knobs course, which served as the back nine, playing the stretch at five-under with five birdies in the opening round before following it up with a three-under performance on the same nine holes in round two. He again showcased his mastery of the Knobs course in the final round, making a charge for medalist honors with three consecutive birdies on his closing holes, Nos. 1, 2 and 3. However, Nathan Hopley of King University and Max Winnersjo of Tusculum University held off the late surge and finished tied for the individual title. Nonetheless, de Bethencourt delivered another All-Tournamnet performance, finishing in sole possession of third place at eight-under-par with a 54-hole total of 208.

Hugo Lundberg finished tied for 25th at one-over-par 217 in the 54-hole event. Lundberg opened the tournament with a two-under 70 in the first round, highlighted by three birdies over a four-hole stretch on holes 15 through 18. He followed with an even-par 72 in round two, carding three more birdies. In Tuesday's final round, Lundberg battled through an up-and-down day. After recording his second double bogey of the tournament on the seventh hole, he bounced back with birdies on holes nine, 10 and 15 to post a one-over 73 and secure a tie for 25th place.

Aidan Sinclair tied for 47th place with a 54-hole total of 220. Sinclair saved his best round for Tuesday's final, carding a one-under-par 71 after opening the tournament with rounds of 72 and 76.

Manuel Gutierrez (T-66th, 225) contributed to the team's score in the first two rounds, opening with a two-under-par 70 in round one before adding a three-over-par 75 in round two. Hjalmar Liljenberg (T-76th, 229) contributed to the team score in rounds two and three, carding a three-over-par 75 in round two and a six-over-par 78 in the final round.

Milligan ended up in T-7th place with Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for Johnson University with 865 total strokes, 28 strokes behind the host Tusculum who won the tournament.

Next up for Milligan is the AAC Fall Championships on Oct. 26 and 27 in Adairsville, Ga. at the Barnsley Resort. The AAC Championships will serve as the final event of the fall season and be a litmus test for what lies ahead in the spring.

RESULTS