MORRISTOWN, Tenn. --- Four Tusculum College players finished in the top-eight as the Pioneers led wire-to-wire in capturing the 2015 Verizon Walters State Invitational which was held at The Country Club in Morristown. TC posted a two-day score of 591 to win the tournament for a second straight year and third time in the last four seasons.

Tusculum posted a final round 299 on Tuesday to win the 36-hole event by five strokes over tournament host Walters State (596). Walters State B finished third with 623, followed by Carson-Newman B (628), Georgia Southwester (632), Lincoln Memorial (634) and UVa-Wise (655).

Tusculum senior Brad Hawkins shot the best score of the day with his two-under par 70 to finish with a two-day total of 72-70=142 (-2) and get into a playoff with Jacob Sherlin of Walters State (71-71=142, -2). Sherlin won medalist honors on the second playoff hole.

Tusculum senior Nick Forsberg finished third with 69-76=145, while juniors Taylor Smith (76-75=151) and Chris Hutson (75-78=153) placed sixth and eighth, respectively. Freshman Heath Ratliff tied for 27th place with 79-85=164.

TC junior Preston Tucker finished tied for 10th place with 79-75=154, playing as an individual competitor.

Tusculum has won two of its four events this year and will close out the fall season Oct. 31-Nov.1 as they host the Pioneer Classic at the Nolichucky Golf Club.

- TC -

Team Results
Pl Team 1st 2nd TOT
1 TUSCULUM 292 299 591
2 Walters State 299 297 596
3 Walters State B 314 309 623
4 Carson-Newman B 309 319 628
5 Georgia Southwestern 314 318 632
6 Lincoln Memorial 319 315 634
7 Virginia-Wise 334 321 655

Tusculum Individual Scores
Pl Player 1st 2nd TOT
2 Brad Hawkins 72 70 142#
3 Nick Forsberg 69 76 145
T6 Taylor Smith 76 75 151
T8 Chris Hutson 75 78 153
T10 Preston Tucker* 79 75 154
T27 Heath Ratliff 79 85 164
# lost on 2nd playoff hole
* individual competitor