Competition at the Mid Pines Intercollegiate Golf Tournament was stronger than the Georgetown men’s golf team was accustomed to. And that is exactly why the team showed up.

But the Hoyas did not fare as well as they would have hoped against their stiff competition, starting the year with a lackluster 12th-place finish among the 17 participating teams.

“We opened up the season playing in what we call a highly competitive event, and that’s what we saw down there,” Head Coach Tommy Hunter said. “We came back knowing what our strengths and weaknesses are.”

Hunter characterized the Hoyas’ play as “good, but not great.”

He emphasized that the team must improve in two specific areas – getting the ball closer to the hole and making more putts.

Except for the University of Maryland and the University of Richmond, most of the teams that participated in the event are not in Georgetown’s conference. Although the Hoyas placed lower than both the Terrapins and the Spiders, Hunter said, “[The tournament] gave us a chance to bump heads with some of the finer schools in our district.”

David Erickson was the top individual Hoya finisher tying for 18th place with a three-round total of 219 (71-73-75). Tim Moynihan and Matt Myers finished in ties within one stroke of each other, placing 38th and 43rd respectively. Matt Hoesley finished in a tie for 71st place with a total of 233 (79-80-74) and Bob Molina tied for 79th place with a 237 total (83-78-76).

Wichita State won the event with a three-round total of 853 compared to Georgetown’s total of 897. The host Spartans of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro finished second with a score of 864. Lamar University took third with 869.

The Hoyas will next compete in the William and Mary Invitational in Providence Forge, Va. on Oct. 4-5.