Grand Rapids, MI – In golf, a difficult start doesn't have to define the finish. For Aquinas College senior captain Austin Pitsch, a strong push down the stretch turned a challenging round into a medal-winning performance at the Cornerstone Golf Invitational on Monday, Oct. 12.

Coming off the previous weekend's competition, the Saints faced a quick turnaround and another opportunity to test themselves against a competitive field. Despite a demanding course and a day filled with challenges, Aquinas continued to battle, with Pitsch's late-round surge providing a highlight for the team.

Team Results

Aquinas finished ninth out of 14 teams at the Cornerstone Golf Invitational. Calvin A claimed first place with a team score of 302, followed by Cornerstone in second at 304 and Lawrence Tech in third at 308.

The competition remained tight throughout the leaderboard, with Cleary finishing just one stroke ahead of the Saints and Calvin B finishing four strokes ahead. Despite the narrow margins, Aquinas continued to compete through a challenging round and looked for opportunities to improve.

Individual Results

Pitsch led the Saints with a second-place finish, shooting a 74 to tie for second individually and earn a medal. After a difficult start to his round, the senior captain caught fire down the stretch, playing his final eight holes four under par to secure his spot near the top of the leaderboard.

His performance reflected the leadership and talent he has brought to the team throughout the season, setting an example for his teammates both on and off the course.

AJ Bishop, Andrew Kurowski, Carsen Miller and Benjamin Holloway rounded out the Aquinas lineup. Although the Saints did not achieve the team results they had hoped for, the players continued to compete through the challenging conditions.

The tournament provided another opportunity for Aquinas to gain experience against a competitive field and identify areas to build on as the fall season approaches its conclusion.

Coaches' Comments

"I just want to give a special shoutout to senior captain Austin Pitsch," said head coach Chance Fry. "He got off to a tough start to his round but went four under in his final eight holes to finish with a medal. He leads by example with his leadership and obvious talent on the course. He's been an awesome asset to our team. The rest of the guys battled on a tough course, and I was proud of how they handled themselves despite not getting the results they wanted."

Saints Snapshots

• Aquinas finished ninth out of 14 teams at the Cornerstone Golf Invitational.

• Senior captain Austin Pitsch tied for second individually with a 74 to earn a medal.

• Pitsch played his final eight holes four under par after a challenging start.

• Cleary finished one stroke ahead of Aquinas, while Calvin B finished four strokes ahead.

Up Next

Aquinas will return to the course for its final tournament of the fall season at the Saints Classic on Monday, Oct. 19, in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Saints will look to carry the lessons learned at Cornerstone into their final competition, building on Pitsch's leadership and the team's continued determination to finish the fall season strong.

Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for updates, stories, features, results and statistics covering Aquinas men's and women's golf and all other Saints sports.