Dragons Open 2023 With a Victory in Advance Golf Partners Collegiate

Sunday, February 12

Palm City, Fla.

Drexel University

Advance Golf Partners Collegiate

Dragons Open 2023 With a Victory in Advance Golf Partners Collegiate

2/14/2023 3:45:00 PM | Men's Golf

PALM CITY, Fla. - The Drexel golf team opened the 2023 season with an impressive victory at the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate. The Dragons clinched the victory by shooting a five-under 283 in the final round and finished the 54-hole event at one-under par.

Despite only getting outside on a few occasions this month, Drexel showed no signs of rust in their first competition of the new year at the Hammock Creek Golf Club. The Dragons entered the final round just three shots behind UNCG, the hosts of the tournament and a team that was ranked 50th in the nation. In the final round, three Drexel student-athletes shot under par as the Dragons pulled away for a three-shot victory. Griffin Mitchell saved his best round for last. The junior from Ohio carded a 68 to lead the team. He had a team-best six birdies and was three-under par on the back. Oscar Maxfield rebounded nicely on Tuesday and shot a two-under 70. Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa had his second straight below-par round. The junior fired a one-under 71 on the par-72, 7,169 yard course. Brockton English recorded a 74 to close out the scoring on Tuesday.

Drue Nicholas finished the tournament tied for second overall at five-under par (211). He finished seven strokes behind Nick Lyerly of UNCG. Mitchell's big day propelled him into fifth place, while Nyamukondiwa also finished in the top 10, in a tie for ninth overall.

"What an unbelievable moment for the entire Drexel Golf family," Drexel golf coach Ben Feld said. "Our guys work so hard and care so deeply about our purpose and each other. We knew we were going to have some level of rust coming out of our winter but we committed to one another that we were going to the toughest and scrappiest team in the field this week and we fought like crazy until the end. Our guys are confident and to beat that field in our first event of the spring reconfirms that all of the goals we have set are fully within our reach. So proud of these incredible young men. We've just gotta keep getting a little better each day."

The Dragons will look to start the year with back-to-back victories beginning on Feb. 26. They play in the Dorado Beach Collegiate in Puerto Rico, a place they found to their liking a year ago. Last season, the Dragons finished second in the event, just four shots behind UNCG. As a team, the Dragons set a school record of 25-under par. In the final round, the Dragons fired a 15-under par at the Sugarcane Course at the Dorado Beach Resort and Club.