Loudon, TN- The 23^rd-ranked Cumberlands Patriots defeated Faulkner University in the championship round of the Eagles Match Play Invitational to remain undefeated and bring home their second win of the fall 2022 season.

After getting his round cut short yesterday due to darkness, Jarryd Elliott had three holes to complete this morning before the Patriots were able to finish the tournament. Elliot was up against Porter of Point University as the teams were tied 2-2. In the remaining three holes, Elliot and Porter tied two, but Elliot pulled through on the final hole to defeat #21 Skyhawks and send the Pats into the championship round.

In the final round of match-play, UC was up against Faulkner University, who had defeated its opponents 3-2 and 3-1-1 in the quarter and semi-final rounds.

Gustav Barden continued his success into the final round of the tournament going 5 & 4 on Faulker's Elime Raath. Barden and Raath tied on the first hole and from then on the match was back and forth. Barden won seven holes, and tied eight to secure the first point for the Patriots.

After dropping the first hole, Hampus Nilsson won five of the next 17 holes. Nilsson and his competitor, Christoph Rickert bounced the lead back and forth before Rickert ultimately won the round 2 & 1 on Nilsson. With an Eagles win, the match was tied 1-1.

Extending the Patriots lead was Jarryd Elliott who was 3 & 2 through the 16^th hole against Awethu Mkhwanazi. After trailing for most of the round, Elliott battled back on the 15^th hole to tie Faulkner. Mkhawanazi lost the final few holes to give Elliott the win and the Pats their second point. With two golfers remaining, UC led 2-1.

The match was tied again when William Ekeroth lost to Faulkner's, Bryan DeJonge. The two were neck and neck for the majority of the round, but DeJonge pulled ahead towards the end to go 4 & 3. The two teams each had two points, and one golfer left on the greens.

Cumberlands final competitor, Imanol Camba came up big with win against Juan Cespedes. Camba was trailing by two holes going into the back nine, but turned it around on the 10^th and 13^th holes to tie his competitor. Cespedes, lost the next two holes, making Camba 2up through 17, securing the final Patriot point.

The team won the match 3-2, securing their second, 1^st place victory of the year. This was the first match-play invitational played under Head Coach Aaron Watkins, and it is safe to say it was a success. The Patriots have now won two of the three tournaments they have played this season.

UC hits the greens again October 17^th and 18^th in Koher, WI to compete in the Whistling Straits Championship.

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