PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- For the first time in 11 years to the day, the Wayne State University men's golf team has won its first two tournaments of the season.  Tuesday at Hillsdale's Get To Foundation Invitational, the Warriors were victorious in a 10-team field thanks to a three-round score of 879 (+15, 299-295-285), one stroke better than Findlay's 880 in second place.  Playing at The Cardinal at Saint John's, WSU ascended from fourth place after the second round to the top during the final 18 holes of play.

"This is one of the best wins in school history as we battled one man down all day yesterday and then even though Adam played, he wasn't at full strength," said head coach Mike Horn.  "Outstanding play from Tyler (Hurtubise) and Luc (Warnock) finishing in the top five.  Tyler actually finished only one shot outside the playoff.  I'm really proud of all the guys, especially the guys that stepped up at the last minute to fill in for Max (Leppelmeier) and Mat (Hawryluk).  We send our condolences out to the Hawryluk family for their loss of Mat's grandfather.  Super impressed with Adam (Burghardt) battling today with his back injury.  This team has unlimited potential if they can do what they did the last three days and still come out with the win, it says it all!  If we clean up our putting, it's going to be a very memorable year.  Jokes aside, let's roll, Wayne!"

The last time WSU was on top of the leaderboard in each of its first two events of a campaign was Sept. 9-10 and Sept. 16-17 of the 2013-14 season.  The Warriors were first of seven teams at the Lake Superior Invitational and then on top of six squads at the BGSU John Piper Intercollegiate.  Wayne State last claimed back-to-back first-place showings at any point in a season during October of the 2019-20 schedule.

Fast forward to this week and Wayne State only got better as the tournament progressed with 18-hole scores of 299 (+11), 295 (+7) and 285 (-3).  That 285 was the best score of any team in round three by 11 strokes, ahead of Findlay, Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley State at eight over.  Aside from the Warriors, the Cardinals were the only other school to move up the leaderboard on day two as the other eight slid or stayed put.

Individually, Wayne State was paced by Tyler Hurtubise (Essex, Ont. / Essex District) in a tie-for-third out of 59 golfers, but that result didn't come easy for the senior.  Hurtubise climbed 13 spots up the leaderboard, second only to SVSU's Joey Per (tied-for-30th) for the most improvement of any player during day two.  The Canadian carded a 217 (+1, 73-76-68) and was joined in the top five by Luc Warnock (McGregor, Ont. / E.J. Lajeunesse (Northern Illinois)).

After a tie-for-fifth this event, Warnock has been among the top five for each of his first two tournaments as a Warrior.  The second time around, the Division I transfer turned in a 218 (+2, 74-72-72).
 
The Warriors weren't done in the top 11, though, as Ian Smith (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) tied-for-11th with a 221 (+5, 79-70-72).  Josh DiCarlo (Amherstburg, Ont. / General Amherst) rounded out the scoring for the good guys in a tie-for-16th with a 223 (+7, 73-77-73).

Competing as an individual, Andrew Daily (Brighton, Mich.) tied-for-37th with a 233 (+17, 78-76-79).  Finishing just the third round due to an injury on day one, Adam Burghardt (New Baltimore, Mich. / Warren De La Salle) shot a two-over 74 on Tuesday.

Next up on the schedule, the Warriors will look to carry this momentum into their own Motor City Shakedown on Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at their home course, TPC Michigan in Dearborn, Mich.