RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's golf team captured victory in its first tournament of the 2024-25 season, taking the team title at the Colonel Shootout on Sunday, shooting 828 (-24) for the tournament.
 
Leading the way for the Colonels was transfer Connor Gdovin who finished tied for first out of a field of 86 individuals at seven-under for the tournament with Vanderbilt's Ben Loomis.
 
The team win, marks EKU's first since March of 2018, at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate hosted by Tennessee Tech.
 
Gdovin's individual title is the first for the Colonels since Willis Gaer finished tied for first at the Jackrabbit Invitational during the 2021-22 season.
 
The Colonels', 18 shot victory came thanks in large part to a strong second round performance on Saturday, shooting a 270 as a team, the fourth best team round in program history.
 
On the round, four different Colonels shot in the 60's, Gdovin (67), Zach Watterson (69), Justin Begley (65), and Jackson Finney (69).
 
Begley's 65 tied seven other Colonels for the fifth best score in an individual round in EKU history.
 
Four other Colonels finished in the top-10 individually behind Gdovin with Zach Watterson tied for third at five under, Gehrig Sexton at four under, and Anders Larson and Justin Begley finishing tied for eighth at two under for the tournament.
 
EKU now prepares for the JT Poston Invitational hosted by Western Carolina from Sept. 15-17.