ADAIRSVILLE, Ga.— The Montreat men's golf team closed out the fall portion of its 2024-25 schedule on Monday and Tuesday with a trio of rounds at the AAC Fall Preview in Adairsville, Ga. Playing a total of 54 holes at Barnsley Resort, the Cavaliers finished the tournament 12^th out of 15 squads.
 
Monday featured two rounds as the Cavs tallied a 326 and a 331, good for 10^th with just 18 holes to go. Alex Murphy flashed both consistency and brilliance during his 36 holes of golf. The sophomore carded a 1-over-par 73 in both rounds, leaving him all alone in third place with merely a round to go. Murphy utilized nine birdies across his 36 holes to lead the way for Montreat.
 
Austin Lineberger and Colton Clevenger stood in a tie for 60^th out of 90 golfers through day one. Lineberger shot an 84 and an 86, while Clevenger registered an 83 and an 87. Both gentlemen notched one birdie in each round as well.
 
Ethan Hutchens also aided in the scoring effort during rounds one and two. The East Bend, N.C. native delivered scores of 86 and 85 to land in 62^nd with 18 holes remaining. Lane Hobby turned in a 93 and a 99 on the initial day of action to round out the five student-athletes competing for the Cavaliers.
 
Montreat's scorers teamed up for a 348 on Tuesday to close out the tournament. Murphy led the way again, this time with one birdie and a final-round tally of 83. Thanks to his two-day total (229), Murphy ended play tied for fifth out of 90 participants, and he landed on the All-Tournament Team as a result.
 
"Alex played amazingly," said head coach Daniel Kehler. "I know he was excited coming into this tournament to see what he could do—a lot of our players have been waiting to get back out for over a month. I'm very proud of this young man and what he has accomplished so early in his career here at Montreat. He loves golf and the program, and he truly shows what it means to be a leader."
 
Clevenger (T-64^th; 259) and Lineberger (T-66^th; 261) shot an 89 and a 91 over their last 18 holes, while Hutchens (70^th; 263) carded a 92. Hobby improved in his final round by recording an 85, which moved him up to 80^th on the leaderboard with an overall score of 277.
 
The Cavs also had a pair of student-athletes competing as individuals during the tournament. Luke Hood accrued rounds of 99, 89 and 95 for an 83^rd-place total of 283. James Griffiths finished in 87^th after needing 368 strokes—131, 119, 118—to complete his 54 holes.
 
For a complete look at the AAC Fall Preview leaderboard, click here.
 
The Montreat men's golf team now enters its winter break with an eye on preparing for the spring slate.