GAINESVILLE, Ga. – It is onto Winter Garden, Fla. and the NCAA DII National Championship for the Lee University men's golf team. The event will be a part of the 2024 Spring Sports Festival at the Orange County National Golf Center. The Flames earned a spot in the national tournament (May 21-25) by leaping five spots from a tie of eighth place into a tie for third in the final standings on Saturday. Twenty teams ranked with the best in DII, battled in the South/SE Regional played at the Chattahoochee Golf Club.

Lee, under the direction of first-year coach Evan Spence, was a model of consistent play in the final round finishing with an even-par 288, which tied Wingate University for the best round on Saturday. The Flames and rival West Florida completed the 54-hole tournament with a 9-over 873. Host North Georgia took top honors with an 855 and Coker University was second (865). Wingate also earned a spot in the top five with an 874 total.

Sophomore Wyatt Brackett fired Lee's best round on Saturday, a 1-under 71. He came all the way back from an opening round 76 and tallied an even-par 72 in round two for his 3-over 219 total. Veteran Oliver Lewis-Perkins was best overall, recording scores of 72, 74, 72, a 2-over 218. Bennett McNabb also came in with an even-par 72 in his final 18 to go along with a 73, 75 (4-over 220). The consistent play continued with Trey Melvin, who also tallied rounds of 75, 71, 73 and another 3-over 219.  

Jack Vajda of North Georgia overtook Joseba Torres of Nova Southeastern in the final round to earn the tournament medalist honors. Vajda finished with an 8-under 208 total while Torres had a 7-under 209.  Torres and Tyler Mistretta of Florida Southern (210) will move onto the national tournament, both members of teams that did not qualify for the upcoming tourney.

Coach Evan Spence's Thoughts:

"Proud is an understatement for these guys for sure. There were times this year with ups and downs. I feel like we put it together and put our best team round out there today when our backs were against the wall. So proud, a lot of guts from the guys coming down the stretch. Lee University is a special place and a special program. Excited to have another run with the guys in Orlando."