Ben Jordan Leads Wofford to Carolina Cup Victory

By golfclubsc on October 9, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

The Wofford Terriers finished the Carolina Cup with a furious comeback on the final two holes to win the tournament played at the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg. Terrier junior Ben Jordan was co-medalist. (GolfClub Photo).

The Wofford Terriers saved their best for last, going five under par on numbers 17 and 18 in the final round to win the Carolina Cup at the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg.

“It was pretty amazing how we went from the lead to getting behind and then coming back, it all happened pretty fast,” said the Terrier’s first year coach Todd Eckstein. “The guys never gave up and played great and won,” he added.

Wofford took a five shot lead into the final round over fellow SoCon member Western Carolina.

The Terriers built their lead after outstanding second round performances by individual leader Ben Jordan who carded a 3-under par 69.

Jordan got help from Andrew Aquino and Davis Neal who both posted rounds of 1-under par 71 and Marshall Butler’s even par 72 helped the Terriers shoot a 4-under par 284 total, the lowest round of the tournament.

In the final round neither Western or Wofford were able to pull a way from the field on the front nine, but on the back nine it got much closer.

Ben Jordan’s second round 3-under par 69 helped the Terrier junior win his first college championship, (GolfClub Photo)

All five Catamount golfers birdied the 13th hole and all parred the 14th hole.

The Terriers played the same two holes at 1-over par as Western Carolina took the lead.

The Catamounts added to their lead playing number 16 at 1-under par while the Terriers were 1-over par. Western gave back a shot on the 16th hole, but still had the lead going to numbers 17 and 18.

On the par 4 17th hole, the Terriers Charles Warren made a birdie and followed it up with a eagle on the 18th. After not posting a counting score on Saturday Warren’s 4-under par 68 was the best round of the tournament and set the stage for the Terriers win.

Aquino followed Warren with a birdie and when Jordan rolled in his short birdie put on 18 the Terriers had staged an amazing comeback for a 3 shot team victory.

Carolina Country Club owner Tim Dunlap congratulates the co-champions Wofford’s Ben Jordan and Winthrop’s Ashton Eubanks who tied for medalist honors at the Carolina Cup. (GolfClub Photo)

Jordan’s two birdies on his final two holes earned him a share of medalist honors with Ashton Eubanks from WInthrop.

The Terrier Junior from Greensboro’s previous best finish was a top-5. in Colorado.

“It got a little nervy coming down the stretch,” said Jordan. “I’m pretty happy about the win and it should give us some momentum going into the last event of the fall and then in the spring,” he said.

Eckstein who joined the program in the summer after stints as assistants at Furman and Virginia Tech and the head coach at High Point guided the Terriers to their first team win since February of 2023.

“It’s awesome. Watching the way that these guys work and the way that they get along, it was really rewarding to watch them play some really good golf. They’ve done such a good job so far, and to see it come together and earn them a win was really special,” said the Terrier’s coach.