Richmond, IN – Transylvania University's men's golf team continued its impressive run this past weekend at the HCAC Preview, with Thomas Buchert (Jr. Cincinnati, OH) claiming his second tournament victory of the season. Buchert's stellar performance, finishing with a total score of -1 (71-70—141), gave him a one-stroke victory over teammate Connor Calhoun, who secured second place with an even-par 70-72—142. This win marks Buchert's second tournament title of the year, following his victory at the Transylvania Fall Invitational.
This tournament is also the third consecutive event where a Transylvania golfer has been crowned individual medalist. Senior Tyler Allred continued the streak in week two by winning the GreyStone Invitational just outside of Nashville, Tennessee
Transylvania Team Highlights
Transylvania finished second overall as a team with a score of +32 (298-302—600), only behind Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. This strong showing was driven by multiple standout performances, including four players finishing in the Top 10 and five in the Top 15.
Individual Transylvania Scores:
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Thomas Buchert – 1st place: 71-70—141 (-1)
- Key Stats: Buchert dominated the Par 3s, playing them at even par, and had a standout round of 70 (-1) on Day 2 to seal the victory. He also ranked high in birdies, recording 6 birdies throughout the tournament and one of only three eagles across the entire field.
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Connor Calhoun – 2nd place: 70-72—142 (E)
- Key Stats: Calhoun played the Par 5s to perfection, scoring -5 across both rounds, the best performance of any player in the tournament on those holes. He also tallied 7 birdies over the two rounds, matching his teammate Buchert shot for shot in many key moments. He also had one eagle.
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JD Collins – T7th place: 76-74—150 (+8)
- Highlights: The freshman continued his impressive debut season by finishing in the Top 10, highlighted by a +3 round of 74 on Day 2.
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Ty Ruttinger – T9th place: 75-77—152 (+10)
- Highlights: Another freshman shining on the big stage, Ruttinger secured his place in the Top 10 with consistent play, particularly on the Par 5s where he played them at -3 for the tournament.
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Tyler Allred – T12th place: 75-79—154 (+12)
- Highlights: The winner of the GreyStone Invitational had a solid first day with a 75, helping keep Transylvania in the race for the team title.
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Gavin Sheets – T12th place: 75-79—154 (+12)
- Highlights: A balanced effort across both days saw Sheets match his teammate Allred's score, contributing to the Pioneers' strong overall showing.
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William Carr – T15th place: 76-79—155 (+13)
- Highlights: Carr's 76 on Day 1 helped keep Transy competitive, and despite a tougher second day, he finished inside the Top 15.
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Ryan Ennis – 34th place: 80-82—162 (+20)
- Highlights: Ennis put together two solid rounds, playing well on the Par 3s, where he ranked among the top half of the field with a +2 score.
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Tyson Webb – 51st place: 88-83—171 (+29)
- Highlights: Webb improved by five strokes on Day 2, showing great resilience to contribute to the team effort.
Transylvania Team Stats:
- Par 3s: Transylvania played the Par 3s at an average of 3.38 (+15), ranking second overall.
- Par 4s: The Pioneers excelled on the Par 4s, playing them at +39, the best of any team in the tournament.
- Par 5s: Transylvania finished second in Par 5 scoring, playing them at 4.93 (-2).
- Birdies: The team accumulated 21 birdies, led by Calhoun and Collins with 7 birdies each.
- Eagles: Buchert and Calhoun each recorded one eagle, making Transylvania one of only two teams to manage an eagle in the tournament.
What's Next?
The Pioneers will look to build on this momentum as they head into their next tournament. With three consecutive individual champions, Transylvania is proving itself as a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.
Transylvania's Top 5 Individual Finishes at HCAC Preview:
- Thomas Buchert – 1st: -1 (71-70—141)
- Connor Calhoun – 2nd: E (70-72—142)
- JD Collins – T7th: +8 (76-74—150)
- Ty Ruttinger – T9th: +10 (75-77—152)
- Tyler Allred – T12th: +12 (75-79—154)
Next up: Transylvania Golf heads to Mississippi for the Rhodes Collegiate Invitational at Tunica National Golf Club next weekend
