MORGANTON, NC – Led by the continued solid play of sophomore Baylor Payne, the Stetson Hatters' men's golf team closed out the 2016 Donald Ross Intercollegiate with a 287, the team's best round of the tournament.
 
The Hatters finished the 10-team event as the only team to improve on its score in each successive round. Tuesday's 287 was bettered by just two teams – host Appalachian State and Pfeiffer University.
 
Payne, who posted matching scores of 71 in the first two rounds of play on Monday, finished with an even par 70 in Tuesday's final round to tie for seventh place overall. Payne had three birdies and three bogeys in his final round to finish the tournament with 10 birdies and 10 bogeys with one double.
 
Pfeiffer's Zach Weaver coasted to a five-shot victory for medalist honors thanks to a two-under par 68 in the final round. He finished the tournament with a six-under par score of 204.
 
High Point was able to hold off a late charge by Appalachian State to win the tournament with an 11-over par score of 851. The Mountaineers closed to within four shots, but no closer. Pfeiffer finished third, 12 shots off the pace.
 
The Hatters finished a disappointing eighth in the tournament, but were just four shots behind Evansville for fourth and seven behind Pfeiffer.
 
In addition to Payne, the Hatters got a final round 71 from sophomore Tate Smith, who finished tied for 21^st with teammate Tyler Dierwechter with a three-day score of 219. Dierwechter posted a 72 in the final round.
 
Another sophomore, Jared Nicolls, closed the event with a 74 on Tuesday to finish tied for 37^th at 223. Freshman Chris Williard struggled in his final round, posting a season-high round of 80 to finish tied for 51^st with a score of 232.
 
After taking next weekend off from competition, the Hatters will close out the fall portion of their schedule with consecutive events the last two weekends of the month. Stetson will play in the FGCU Homewood Intercollegiate in Naples October 24-25 and in the Savannah State Intercollegiate Oct. 30 through Nov. 1.
  
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.