Pack Wins Golfweek Conference Challenge

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – The NC State men's golf team led from start-to-finish to capture the 2017 Golfweek Conference Challenge held at Cedar Rapids Country Club. The Pack was led by sophomore Benjamin Shipp who won the individual title by two strokes with a three round score of 10-under-par.

The tournament victory is the Pack's 55^th all-time and the first since winning the Wolfpack Spring Open earlier this year in April. Tuesday's tournament victory is the first for NC State away from Lonnie Poole Golf Course since winning the USF Invitational in March of 2013.

NC State opened the Golfweek Conference Challenge by firing a first round score of 274 to open up a nine stroke lead on the field. The Pack's first round score was the lowest of any team in the field as NC State was the only squad in the 15-team field to shoot a round lower than 280. The Pack could not equal their opening round score the rest of the way, but still managed to shoot under-par as a team in the second and third rounds to hold off a hard-charging Iowa squad by two strokes.

"I am proud of my guys," NC State head coach Press McPhaul said. "They showed a lot of grit and toughness. They came up here committed to play 54 holes, and let the chips fall where they may. They did that. I'm proud of them for that, more than the win. But I am very glad they got to enjoy a victory after a great effort."

Shipp fired a four-under-par 68 in the opening round to sit in a tie for third-place after 18 holes. A second round score of 69 moved him into second place and a repeat score of three-under-par 69 in the third and final round pushed the Duluth, Ga., native into the lead. Shipp was the only individual in the 75 player field to shoot in the 60s all three rounds.

"Ben was sensational," McPhaul said. "He was so steady throughout the tournament. His card didn't show that he had to deal with some adversity, but he did. He missed a couple of short putts mid-round today. However, he remained steadfast. He was fun to watch, and I'm very proud of him for his work."

Stephen Franken finished in fourth place with a three-round score of 210. Franken fired a tournament-best 66 in the opening round to take the first round lead and never fell out of the top-five as he carded rounds of 73 and 71 to close out the tournament.

Freshman Easton Paxton, making his first appearance for the Wolfpack, finished in a tie for 19^th place. Paxton shot a 70 and 71 in the opening two rounds before closing the tournament with a round of 75.

Harrison Rhoades improved every round to finish in a tie for 27^th place. Rhoades opened with a round of 75, fired a 73 in the second round before closing the tournament with a score of 72.

Nolan Mills Jr., rounded out the Pack lineup with a final scorecard of 221 (70-75-76) to finish in a tie for 30^th place.

The Pack returns to action Monday, Oct. 2 when it hosts the Wolfpack Intercollegiate at Lonnie Poole Golf Course.

TOURNAMENT SCORES
1: Benjamin Shipp – 68-69-69—206
4: Stephen Franken – 66-73-71—210
T19: Easton Paxton – 70-71-75—216
T27: Harrison Rhoades – 75-73-72—220
T30: Nolan Mills, Jr. – 70-75-76—221

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Players Mentioned

Stephen Franken

Nolan Mills Jr.

Easton Paxton

Harrison Rhoades

Benjamin Shipp