WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- On Monday at the par-72, 6822-yard Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, the Reinhardt College men's golf team began its 2010 spring season with a runner-up showing among five squads at its own Reinhardt College Invitational. The tournament was originally scheduled for 18 holes each on Monday and Tuesday, but with a serious threat of inclement weather predicted for Tuesday, the participants played 27 holes on Monday, touring the front nine twice, and Tuesday's play was canceled.  

Reinhardt shot 314 during the opening 18 holes and stood in second place, five shots back of the Tennessee Wesleyan College Bulldogs. Tennessee Wesleyan wound up winning the event with 309-154--463, six strokes ahead of the Eagles. The Milligan College Buffaloes ended in third place (316-162--478), followed by the Virginia Intermont College Cobras (324-160--484) and the University of Virginia's College at Wise Highland Cavaliers (371-181--552).

All five teams are members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. TWC received 15 votes in the latest NAIA poll to rank 36th nationally while Milligan got three votes to rank 41st. Reinhardt earned one vote to rank tied for 42nd in the nation.

The Eagles' Justin Osborne, playing as an individual, shot 2-under-par 34 on the final nine holes to tie for second place overall with a 113 (+5) total. Joe Liptak tied for fourth place with 79-37--116 and Jason Mobley tied for eighth with 77-41--118. Freshman Dan Merriman ended at 79-42--121 (15th place) and Rudi Lee at 86-37--123 (tied for 17th) in the 33-player field.

Reinhardt is scheduled to compete in the Rome News-Tribune Invitational, hosted by Berry College, at Stonebridge Golf Club in Rome, Ga., next Monday and Tuesday, March 8-9.