SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Shattering a program record for low tournament score of a 54-hole event, the Christopher Newport men's golf team fired a 857 (284-283-290) at the 2022 Savannah Invitational to capture a second-place finish as a team. The Captains bested the previous mark by five strokes after being led by a record-breaking performance from tournament runner-up Alex Price (-5) and two more CNU players finishing in the top 20 at the event. 

The previous 54-hole tournament record of 862 was set at the Camp LeJeune Intercollegiate in 2012. The Captains had never shot lower than 860 at a three-round event until this week at the Par 71 Savannah Country Club. The score relative to par, at five-over, is the second best team performance in program history behind only a +2 at the Jekyll Island Invitational in 2016. 

As an individual, Alex Price registered the finest three-round performance in program history both in total score and relative to par. Finishing second on the individual leaderboard at five-under par, Price signed for a 208 (68-72-68) and set the Captains' 54-hole record by three strokes overall and two in relation to par. The previous mark has stood since 2011 when Joseph Evans and Chris Olson each signed for a 211 at the LeJeune Intercollegiate while Harry Nodwell's three-under at Jekyll Island in 2016 was the finest individual tournament in relation to par. Not anymore, as Price put together the finest effort of his excellent career.

After opening the tournament with a 140 (-2) through the first two rounds, Price was nearly unstoppable in Tuesday's third and final round. He opened with birdies in three of his first seven holes. After a bogey temporarily slowed his momentum on eight, Price shook it off was two-under over the next nine holes with two more birdies. He finished out the round with another 68 and trailed only Sewanee's Pearse Lucas on the individual leaderboard by a single stroke. 

Over the 54-hole event, Price led the field with 14 birdies and added one eagle. He tied for the best score on the par three holes (3.00) and ranked tied for third on the par fours (4.03). 

While Price made the headlines with the record-breaking performance, all five Captains logged personal best 54-hole finishes. Robb Kinder, the 2020 Division III National Runner-up, fired a 211 (72-69-70) and tied for 6th; Carrter Morris tied for 19th with a 218 (74-72-72); Aidan Baron also finished in the top-25 with a 220 (70-70-80), and; Michael Thomas wrapped up his first ever 54-hole tournament with a 249 (83-85-81). 

Kinder was under par in the second and third round to slide up the leaderboard and help power the Captains to a second-place finish overall. On Tuesday, he kept his card clean with 14 pars and three birdies and finished tied for sixth overall. He bested his previous 54-hole record by four strokes and tied the Captains' previous record for a three-round tournament with the effort. 

Morris shaved eight strokes off his previous best tournament score in a 54-hole event when he finished just one-over in the second and third rounds. The sophomore finished strong with birdies on 17 and 18 to move into the top-20 finish. 

Wrapping up the counting scores on Tuesday was Baron's 80 and the sophomore added one more birdie to his tournament. Thomas finished with an 81 for his best round of the weekend. 

The record-breaking performance for the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport men's golf team opened the spring season. CNU will travel to the Jekyll Island Intercollegiate next weekend from March 18-20.