By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LaGrange College’s Logan Lanier put the wraps on his phenomenal collegiate college career with a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Division III championship on Friday.

Lanier, who was tied for the lead with six holes to play, shot a final-round 70, and improved his position by four spots after he headed into the last round tied for eighth.

Lanier’s strong finish helped LaGrange College place 10th as a team.

Drew Duffie had four birdies in five holes at one point on the way to a 2-under par 70 to match Lanier.

Osborn Theam, Eric Havixbeck and Anthony Scolapio each shot a 77, and the Panthers had a team score of 294, which was their best score during the four-day tournament.

Lanier, a two-time winner this season who is in contention for the Jack Nicklaus award given to the country’s top Division III golfer, started his day on the back nine, and back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes put him in contention.

Lanier had another birdie at the first hole, and he was tied for the lead at 2-over par.

Lanier played his final eight holes in even par, and he ended up finishing three strokes behind Josh Gibson of Hope College, who closed with a 67 to finish at 1-under.

George Toone of Texas-Tyler and Garrett Brickley tied for second at even par, and Lanier was two strokes back in fourth place.

Lanier had scores of 71, 74 and 75 the first three days.

Duffie’s strong finish allowed him to move up 21 spots, and he finished tied for 54th after rounds of 77, 80, 80 and 70.

Next for the Panthers was Scolapio, who finished 58th with rounds of 80, 77, 74 and 77.

Theam, a senior who like Lanier enjoyed a stellar stint as a LaGrange College golfer, had scores of 71, 81, 80 and 77 to finish 62nd.

Havixbeck had rounds of 77, 78, 82 and 77.