Contributed
(Feb. 24, 2010)
Huntingdon junior Chase Blaich earned his second career individual championship on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to lead the No. 2 ranked Huntingdon men’s golf team to a 14 stroke victory at the Wynlakes Wynternationals on Tuesday at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club.

The Hawks carded a final-round score of 294 and a two-day total of 584 to defeat the 13 team field. Meridian Community College finished second with a total of 598, while LaGrange finished third with a score of 609. Birmingham-Southern and Montevallo rounded out the top five, with scores of 610 and 619, respectively.

Blaich fired a two-under par round of 70 in the final round and finished with a two-day total of 143. The DeFuniak Springs, Fla., native was matched by BSC’s Clay Bounds, who fired a tournament-low round of 69 on Tuesday.

After each recorded a par on the first playoff hole, the par 5, 548-yard 16th hole, Blaich carded a birdie on the 17th hole, a 136-yard par 3, to capture the individual championship.

For the tournament, Blaich paced the 74 man field in par-3 and par-4 scoring, while recording 29 pars in the 36 hole event.

“I was happy with the way I was able to maintain my composure coming down the stretch,” Blaich said. “This is a great way for me to start the spring season from a personal standpoint, but an even better way for our team to start.”

Junior Jay Unis was also named to the All-Tournament team, finishing tied for third with a total of 146. Unis carded a final round of two-over par 74 and finished tied with sophomore teammate Mack Duke, who posted a 76 on Tuesday.

Senior Cody Causey and junior J.P. Kircher each finished tied for 13th in the field, as each posted a two-day total of 152. Kircher recorded a two-over par round of 74 on Tuesday, while Causey finished with a 77 in the final round.

Huntingdon also had three individuals play in the tournament.

Senior Charlie Hearn finished tied for 10th in the field with a total of 151, while fellow senior Jesse Collinsworth finished tied for 40th with a total of 165. Senior Chad Lovelady finished 59th.

As a team, the Hawks ranked first in par-3 scoring (+7), par-4 scoring (+13) and ranked second in par-5 scoring (-1). Huntingdon also led the field with 132 pars.

The Hawks will return to action on Monday when they play the first round of the Callaway Invitational, played at the Callaway Gardens Golf Course in Pine Mountain, Ga.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS

1. Huntingdon – 290, 294 - 584
2. Meridian CC – 303, 295 – 598
3. LaGrange – 312, 297 – 609
4. Birmingham Southern – 310, 300 – 610
5. Montevallo - 306, 313 – 619
6. Faulkner – 305, 318 – 623
7. Abraham Baldwin CC – 327, 320 – 647
8. Alabama State – 314, 335 – 649
9. Andrew CC – 329, 332 – 661
10. Faulkner B – 337, 335 – 672
11. Millsaps – 354, 341 – 695
12. Sewanee – 350, 347 – 697
13. Martin Methodist – 354, 354 - 708