LeBourdais Earns Medalist Honors in Forest Hills Fall Invitational

Anderson University men's golf senior Luke LeBourdais earned medalist honors in the two-day Forest Hills Fall Invitational, which concluded on Sunday in Richmond.

"I'd like to say the tournament was great," LeBourdais said. "The competition was good and it was a very well-run tournament. I've played a lot of rounds at Forest Hills Country Club, so I've gotten a lot of experience there. In the past, I've put up some spectacular first rounds, but could never follow it up with a good second round; I've been three or four shots off the lead the last two times. It was a really gritty back nine. I had to hit some great shots and keep my mind in the game. I kept my focus very well and hit the shots I needed to hit. I kept the ball in front of me and made some great putts."

LeBourdais posted a 36-hole score of 148 (+8). The Saginaw, Mich. native fired rounds of 77 and 71 on the par-70 layout at Forest Hills Country Club. LeBourdais tied for first place with Defiance College's Sam Theissler. The playoff for medalist honors went to a second hole and LeBourdais beat Theissler on the second playoff, finishing as the top player in the 68-player field. LeBourdais is the first Raven to earn medalist honors in more than 14 years.

"That was my first ever playoff, but I found myself in a comfortable spot," LeBourdais said. "I knew whether I won or lost, it would have been my best effort. I made a great par putt on 10 and then I made a pretty stress-free par to win on the last playoff hole. It really felt great to win a college tournament, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates and family; they've helped me so much throughout these years in the best of times and the worst of times."

The Anderson 'A' Team captured fourth place with a 36-hole team score of 626 (+66).

"I'm proud of our guys this weekend at the Forest Hills Fall Invitational," Coach Dijon Knight said. "Luke LeBourdais was incredible, sinking a high-stakes par on the Par 3 and then getting up-and-down on 18 to capture the individual championship in the playoff. Our 'A' Team finished fourth with 94 pars, nine birdies, and just 21 double bogeys. We were strong on Par 3's and Par 5's, but we know we need to clean up the Par 4's."

The Anderson 'B' Team finished 11th place with a team score of 673 (+113).

LeBourdais recorded an 18-hole relative-to-par season best (+1) and a 36-hole relative-to-par season best. John Mercer tied for ninth with a 156, shooting rounds of 77 and 79. Trent Nelson tied for 20th with a 159, carding rounds of 82 and 77. Lawrence Long tied for 32nd with a 163, behind rounds of 79 and 84. His round of +9 is an 18-hole relative-to-par season best. Carter Wooddell claimed 51st with a 168, behind consecutive rounds of 84 to round out Anderson's 'A' Team.

Jackson Rachal tied for 28th with a 162 to lead the Anderson 'B' Team. The junior from Lebanon, Ohio fired rounds of 83 and 79. Braden Gibson tied for 38th with a 165, carding rounds of 81 and 84. His round of +11 is an 18-hole relative-to-par season best. Owen Mockabee tied for 46th with a 167, shooting rounds of 86 and 81. Nathan Charleton tied for 60th with a 179, carding rounds of 90 and 89. Jacob Stevens took 63rd with a 185, behind rounds of 94 and 91 to round out Anderson's 'B' Team. His round of +21 is an 18-hole relative-to-par season best.

"John Mercer and Trent Nelson provided steady play, and I was especially impressed with our freshmen Braden Gibson, Trent Nelson, and Nathan Charleton—all showing great composure and fighting for every shot," Coach Knight said. Our 'B' Team improved seven strokes in Round 2, with flashes from Jackson Rachal and Owen Mockabee. Both squads showed poise, resilience, and the ability to capitalize when it mattered most. I'm excited to build on this for the rest of the season."

Anderson returns to action in the two-day Stateline Shootout, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Miami Whitewater Forest Golf Club in Harrison, Ohio.