MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University golf team shaved eight strokes off its second-round score to move into eighth place on the final day of the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Tuesday.
 
Freshman Kurtis Grant led the Mountaineers in his collegiate debut at the Old Town Club. After shooting 69-69 in the first two rounds, he registered a pair of birdies and an eagle on his way to two-under-par with a 68. Grant just missed a top-10 finish, tying for 12th place at four under with a 206.
 
"Kurtis played outstanding for a true freshman making his collegiate debut," coach Sean Covich said.
 
The Mountaineers shot five under the final round, moving up two spots into eighth place. They finished with a team score of 279-283-275=837 for three under. Louisville took home top honors, shooting 30 under with an 810. Host Wake Forest was a stroke back in second at 29 under (811).
 
"The guys finished strong today. We had a glimpse of what we are capable of this season," Covich said. "There is a lot of golf yet to be played this year but I like the way we responded today. We need to clean up some things and get ready for our home event at Pete Dye in two weeks.
 
Junior Etienne Papineau shot a final-round score of 68 to jump 14 spots for a tie for 29th with senior Max Sear. Papineau carded a three-round score of 71-72-68=211 to finish the event one-over-par, while Sear shot 72-69-70=211.
 
Sophomore Matthew Sharpstene also made his way into the 60s for his final round. He fired a 69 for one under in the final round after shooting 70-73 on the first day of play. Sharpstene tied for 35th at two over with a 54-hole total of 212.
 
Sophomore Mark Goetz shot 69-75-71=215 to finish five over and in a tie for 51st place.
 
West Virginia returns home to prep for the 2018 Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational. The squad will host the event Oct. 8-9 at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia.