PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (9/10/24) – Freshman Jake Wallis tied the program record low round with a 9-under par 63 to help the Arkansas State men's golf team close out a season-opening win in the Golfweek Fall Challenge at True Blue Golf Club.

Leading the event wire-to-wire, the Red Wolves shot a tournament best 15-under par 273, tied for the eighth-best round in program history. A-State totaled 35-under par 829, tied for the fourth-lowest 54-hole total in program history, to top Wright State (-23) by 12 strokes. Austin Peay (-17) and Stetson (-9) were the only other teams to finish the event under par. The tournament title is the 23rd under 10th-year head coach Mike Hagen.

Closing out his collegiate debut, Wallis tied Matthew Cole's program best round of 9-under par 63 set at the Border Olympics during the 2017-18 season. In his bogey-free round, Wallis carded five birdies and two eagles, including a hole-in-one on the par-3, seventh hole. Wallis finished the event at 9-under par 207 and took a third-place finish.

Jack Maxey closed out an impressive tournament with his third consecutive par or better round to total 7-under par 209 for a fifth-place finish. After a 4-under par 68 and 3-under par 69 the first two rounds, Maxey was even-par Tuesday to cap his third career top five finish. Jake Lile finished up at 1-over par 73 on the final round and tied for sixth with a 6-under par 210 total. Maxey and Lile led the 85-player field with 17 birdies over the three-day event.

Thomas Schmidt was par or better in all three of his rounds giving him 41 on his career, seventh-most in program history. Schmidt carded a second consecutive 2-under par 70 to total 4-under par 212 and a tie for 11th. Milan Reed closed out the event with his best round at 4-under par 68 for a 54-hole total of 3-under par 213 and a tie for 13th giving the Red Wolves all five players inside the top 15. Playing as an individual, Pierce Johnson finished tied for 36th with a total of 3-over par 219 following a 3-under par 69 Tuesday.

The Red Wolves return to action Sept. 20-21 at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M.

Golfweek Fall Challenge
Final Results
1 Arkansas State 277-279-273=829 (-35)
3 Jake Wallis 68-76-63=207 (-9)
5 Jack Maxey 68-69-72=209 (-7)
T6 Jake Lile 69-68-73=210 (-6)
T11 Thomas Schmidt 72-70-70=212 (-4)
T13 Milan Reed 73-72-68=213 (-3)
T36 Pierce Johnson 72-78-69=219 (+3)