Loudon, TN – The #23 Cumberlands men's golf team posted a pair of head-to-head wins to advance to the championship match of the Eagles Match Play Invitation Monday afternoon at Tennessee National Golf Course.  The Patriots, who entered the tournament as the fifth-seed posted a 5-0 over fourth-seed Milligan before battling top-seed and 21^st-ranked Point in the semifinals.

UC opened the day in dominating fashion winning four of the matches with Buffaloes by at least five points.  Gustav Barden got the scoring started for UC defeating Brandon Hammond 7 & 6.  Barden opened the tournament winning the first six holes go six up as they made the turn at nine.  The junior closed out the match on the 13^th hole moved to 7up.  Jarryd Elliott followed that in similar fashion taking the first five holes and besting Gustaf Lundberg 7 & 6. 

After dropping the first two holes, Hampus Nilsson rallied to win nine of the next 12 holes to extend the Patriots lead to 3-0 with a 6 & 5 win over Ty Beasley, clinching the match for the Patriots.

William Ekeroth extended the Patriots lead with a 5 & 4 win over Jonathan Liggett. Ekeroth, the reigning MSC Golfer of the Week, didn't drop a hole as he won five holes, while the two competitors tied eight holes.  UC looked to complete the sweep as Imanol Camba battled Samuel Prater.  The two golfer battled throughout the round however, Camba ultimately won the final hole to take the 1up win and earn the point for the 5-0-0 final.

The wins advanced the Patriots to the semifinals where they were matched up against the #21 Skyhawks.  Ekeroth scored the first point of the match with a 6 & 5 win over Dominik Wolf to put the Patriots in front.  After dropping the first hole, the freshman won four straight to move to 3up. Ekeroth took a four point lead at the turn and won holes 11, 12, & 13 to move to six up and clinch the match. 

Point even the score as Trevor Poole defeated Camba 6 & 5 to even the score at 1-1.  Point took the lead as Dylan Evans knocked off Nilsson, however, Cumberlands rallied to even the match at 2-2 as Barden notched a win over Jacob Joseph.

Elliott and Brendan Porter are tied with three holes to play, however, the match was suspended due to darkness.  Elliott trailed by three holes after hole seven but has rallied taking four of the six holes they've played on the back nine. 

The Patriots will return to the links tomorrow for the final day of Eagles Match Play Invitational.  The winner of the match with Point will advance to the championship, while the loser will drop to the third place match.

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