ECU Opens Spring Season At Kiawah Invitational

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Nearly one year after playing in its last event, the East Carolina men's golf team returns to the links Sunday, Feb. 14, at the 2021 Kiawah Invitational at the Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort.

Hosted by the College of Charleston, this year's field also includes Clemson, ETSU, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, UNCW, Wake Forest and Wisconsin.

Wake Forest is ranked 17th in the 2021 Bushnell/Golfweek Pre-Spring Poll with Clemson tied for 25th.

The three-day event begins Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET with the first round, continues Monday at 8:30 a.m. for round two, and concludes Tuesday at 8 a.m. on the par-72, 6,701-yard Oak Point course.

The Pirates' initial lineup this season features fifth-year senior Patrick Stephenson, seniors Stephen Carroll and Tim Bunten, junior A.J. Beechler and sophomore Jake Calamaro. Redshirt junior Jimbo Stanley will also compete as an individual.

"It has been a long time since we have competed together as a team and we are so excited to get to Kiawah and play," Pirate head coach Andrew Sapp said. "Our players have worked so hard all fall, winter and this semester to get to this point and they're ready to put the Jolly Roger back on and play for ECU!"

Stephenson will be playing in his 43^rd career tournament this weekend, more than twice as many as any of this teammates. Stephenson has a career scoring average of 73.21 strokes per round which ranks as fourth-lowest in school history heading into the season.

Beechler played in eight events during the shortened 2019-20 season, the most of any returning player. He has four career top-10 finishes with a career-best fourth-place finish at the Intercollegiate at Innisbrook last year.

Bunten posted the lowest scoring average of any returning player a year ago at 72.25 strokes per round, which was two strokes fewer than his average from the previous season. Carroll also improved his scoring average, dropping from 75.12 in 2018-19 to 73.53.

Calamaro will be making his ECU debut this weekend and Stanley will play in his sixth career event.

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Players Mentioned

A.J. Beechler

Tim Bunten

Jake Calamaro

Stephen Carroll

Jimbo Stanley

Patrick Stephenson

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