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O'Hern Debuts with Tri-Medalist Honor to Lead Wooster to Third-Place Finish at Gatorade Collegiate

Colin O'Hern
First-year Colin O'Hern earned Wooster's first medalist honor since the end of the 2012-13 season.

DOVER, Ohio – Colin O'Hern turned in a remarkable collegiate debut as the first-year fired a 144 on the weekend to finish at even par and was a tri-medalist at the Gatorade Collegiate, co-hosted by The College of Wooster and Zoar Golf Course. After a stellar 292 to kick-start the season, Wooster wrapped up play with a 310 on Sunday to finish in third-place at 602.

O'Hern, Wooster's first medalist since alumnus John Angelo captured the top honor at the season-ending 2013 North Coast Athletic Conference Invitational, opened play with a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday. With the red number, O'Hern is believed to be the lone first-year veteran head coach Rich Danch recalls being under par in his first collegiate round during Danch's 22-year tenure as the Scot's mentor.

O'Hern opened his collegiate career with six straight pars before sinking one in for a birdie on No. 7. Two holes later, O'Hern was at 2-under-par, thanks to a birdie just before the turn. In fact, O'Hern was at 3-under-par as late as hole No. 16 during Saturday's stellar debut. On Sunday, O'Hern's birdie on the par-4, 340-yard No. 17 moved him back into medalist contention. For Sunday's round, O'Hern finished at 74.

Wooster's entire lineup played exceptionally well on Saturday as the Scots sat one shot behind clubhouse leader Allegheny College after 18 holes of play. In fact, Wooster's 292 marked the Scots' lowest round since the Black and Gold fired a 289 in the second round of the 2013 Strimer Memorial Invite.

Junior Raghu Bir Choudhary matched O'Hern with a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday. Choudhary was 2-under-par at the turn, thanks to back-to-back birdies on the par-4, 390-yard fifth hole, and the par-3, 170-yard No. 6. After a bogey on the 16th hole, Choudhary bounced back with a solid birdie on the par-4, 340-yard No. 17.

On Sunday, Choudhary carded a 4-over-par 76, aided with a solid stretch of eight consecutive pars to cap the round. For the tournament, Choudhary's 146 placed the junior in a tie for fourth-place.

Similar to O'Hern, sophomore Evan Ferrara found success towards the end of the front nine with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 as part of a 1-over-par 37 on Saturday. For the round, Ferrara turned in a 3-over-par 75, and that was followed up with a 78 on Sunday. Ferrara's 153 placed the sophomore in a tie for 21st.

Sophomore Paul Ryee and first-year David Roney rounded out the Scots' lineup. Ryee fired a 5-over-par 77 in the first round, and his round featured a birdie on No. 8. Roney jumped out to a hot start on Saturday despite less-than-ideal weather conditions with a birdie on par-5, 505-yard No. 2, and he closed the front nine at even par. For the tournament, Ryee's 159 placed the sophomore in a tie for 41st-place, while Roney tied for 43rd-place with a 160.

Seven other Scots competed in the tournament outside of the regular lineup. Sophomore Evan Jenkins, led that group with a 153, good for a tie for 21st-place.

O'Hern was joined by Allegheny's Matthew Del Rosso and Robert Hapanowicz at even par. The Gators captured the team title at 588, marking the second time in the four-year history of the Gatorade Collegiate Allegheny's won the team title.

Wooster returns to action at the Guy and Jeanne Kuhn Memorial Invitational held at the Country Club of Meadville in Meadville, Pa., Sept. 10-11.