GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Paladin men's golf team won the team title by one stroke Monday at the 53rd Annual Furman Intercollegiate at the par 71, 7,005-yard Furman University Golf Course in Greenville, S.C.  

Furman (-20) held off 21st-ranked Chattanooga (-19) to win their own tournament for just the fourth time in Furman Intercollegiate history.  No. 26 Texas A&M (-10) finished third, while James Madison (+7) and Richmond (+7) tied for fourth.  

Senior Ross Funderburke (-4) and junior Trey Diehl (-2) delivered four crucial birdies over the tournament's final three holes to seal the victory.  Funderburke, who led the Paladins with a 70 in Monday's final round, birdied two of his last three holes, while Diehl, who paced Furman with five birdies in the last round of play, also notched two birdies in his final three holes.

The Paladins placed four players among the tournament's top eight, including Funderburke and sophomore Clark Akers (-4) who tied for fifth.  Akers carded a 72 with birdies on No. 13 and No. 15 on Monday to record his highest career finish.  Junior Will Morlan (-3) finished seventh after posting a 72 with three birdies in the tournament's last round, and Diehl also shot a 72 over the final 18 holes to tie for eighth.  Sophomore Harris Barth (+4) recorded a 74 with three birdies Monday to tie for 32nd.

"This win is one we will definitely cherish and appreciate," said Furman head coach Matt Davidson, who claimed the Furman Intercollegiate crown in 2004 while leading the Paladins to the team title that year.  "Chattanooga is such a great program and battled us until the end.  Each time we are in contention with nine holes to play is a chance to cherish the opportunity to see how our game holds up and try to get the win.  And that opportunity doesn't come around all the time, so to get the job done and get the win was really rewarding.  I am really proud of the guys and all of the work they put in all fall to improve every single week!"

Senior Walker Crosby (+1), who played as an individual, shot a 74 with a birdie on No. 11 to tie for 20th, and senior Demi Di Matteo, who also played as an individual, carded a final-round 73 with three birdies to tie for 27th.   

Other Paladins competing as individuals included senior Mac Scott (+8) who tied for 50th after recording a 72 with a birdie on No. 15 on Monday, plus freshman Fisher Kennedy (+10), who shot an even 71 with three birdies, including consecutive birdies on No. 2 and No. 3, to tie for 61st.  Sophomore Zach Frazer (+20) finished 86th after adding a 79 with two birdies in the final round, and senior David Dickey (+36) tallied an 86 to finish 90th.  

Chattanooga's Paul Conroy (-8) won the tournament by one stroke with rounds of 70-64-71=205.

The Furman Intercollegiate concludes the fall season for the Paladins.  Furman will open the 2024 spring season Feb. 17-18 at the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.

1 Furman 269 277 286 832 -20

T5 Ross Funderburke (4) 69 70 70 209 -4

T5 Clark Akers (5) 68 69 72 209 -4

7 Will Morlan (1) 64 74 72 210 -3

T8 Trey Diehl (3) 68 71 72 211 -2

T20 Walker Crosby (I) 69 71 74 214 +1

T32 Harris Barth (2) 76 67 74 217 +4

T27 Demi Di Matteo (I) 73 70 73 216 +3

T50 Mac Scott (I) 76 73 72 221 +8

T61 Fisher Kennedy (I) 78 74 71 223 +10

86 Zach Frazer (I) 77 77 79 233 +20

90 David Dickey (I) 82 81 86 249 +36