PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 13-ranked Columbus State University men's golf team earned the fifth top five finish of the 2024-25 season at the UWF Argonaut Invitational in Pensacola on Monday and Tuesday.
The Cougars took to the 6,903-yard, par-72 Pensacola Country Club, battling a field of 14 teams. CSU finished fourth in the field as a team with a three-round total of 845 (-19) and were led by Martin Gruendemann's seven-under performance to finish tied for seventh individually.
Gruendemann led the way in the first round, firing a four-under round of 68 with five birdies. Frederick Chappell followed Gruendemann with a two-under opening round of 70, marking five birdies as well. Bernard Meyer rounded out the top three finishers for Columbus State with an even-par 72 first round.
As for the rest of the Cougars, Russell Makepeace opened Monday with a two-over 74 followed by Pate Stansell carding a three-over 75. After the first 18 holes, the Cougars notched an opening round total of four-under to sit at third on the team leaderboard.
In the second round, Makepeace shifted up the individual leaderboard by shooting a four-under 68 with a total of six birdies. Both Chappell and Stansell finished Monday with second round scores of two-under 70, opening the first nine holes unblemished. Chappell went six-under in his first nine holes while Stansell marked a three-under performance during his first nine.
Wrapping up on Monday, Meyer and Gruendemann both finished with second round scores of one-over 73 to help the Cougars remain at third in the leaderboard. CSU shot a team score of seven-under to move the total to 11-under. The Cougars completed the first day of action 11 shots behind the hosts and No. 3-ranked West Florida, and two shots ahead of No. 2-ranked North Georgia.
The Cougars finished the two-day event on Tuesday, totaling a team score of eight-under in the final round. Gruendemann surged up the leaderboard to lead the Cougars in the final round, firing off a clean four-under 68 with four birdies, finishing seven-under for the tournament and seventh individually.
Makepeace shot a one-under third round to finish tied for 14th individually alongside Chappell who carded a one-over final round. The duo finished the 54-hole tournament with a total score of three-under. Stansell finished one-under for the tournament after going for another two-under performances, landing tied for 30th in the individual field. Meyer rounded out the Cougars tied for 33rd at even-par after a final round of one-under on Tuesday.
As a team, Columbus State finished the tournament as the best team on par threes and par fours. CSU ranked first with a score of four-over on par threes while leading the field with a nine-under score on par fours. The Cougars also tallied up the second-most birdies for the tournament with 61, falling behind by one to the hosts UWF.
Final Scores – Rd 1, 2, 3 & Total
Columbus State | 284 (-4), 281 (-7), 280 (-7) – Total 850 (-19)
T7 – Martin Gruendemann | 68, 73, 68 – Total 209 (-7)
T14 – Frederick Chappell | 70, 70, 73 – Total 213 (-3)
T14 – Russell Makepeace | 74, 68, 71 – Total 213 (-3)
T30 – Pate Stansell | 75, 70, 70 – Total 215 (-1)
T33 – Bernard Meyer | 72, 73, 71 – Total 216 (E)
Next Up
- Columbus State will shift focus to postseason play as they are slated to take on the Peach Belt Conference Championship on Apr. 18-20 at Forest Hills GC in Augusta, Ga.
