McBride second in Graeme McDowell Shoal Creek Intercollegiate

Wake Forest's Paul McBride

The Island's Paul McBride equalled his career-best finish in US collegiate golf when he finished second in the Graeme McDowell Shoal Creek Intercollegiate in Alabama.

As Wake Forest took the team honours by 13 strokes from Liberty, the 21-year-old Walker Cup player shot rounds of 71, 68 and 69 to finish a stroke behind Ole Miss' Braden Thornberry — the player who beat him in the final day singles in the Walker Cup — on eight-under-par.

Scores - Team / Individual

Wake Forest with the Graeme McDowell Shoal Creek Invitational trophy

Thornberry birdied the last two holes at Shoal Creek Country Club to close with a 70 and set the target but while McBride followed his morning 68 by playing his first 14 holes in an immaculate four-under-par, he bogeyed the 15th and had to settle for solo second place.

It was McBride's fourth runner-up finish for Wake Forest since he arrived in 2014-15 and his ninth top-five finish 

The Dubliner, who plans to turn professional after he graduates in May, tied for 18th to help Wake Forest win the Rod Myers Invitational on their 2017-18 debut last week.

Paul McBride's career top-5s with Wake Forest

2nd Shoal Creek Intercollegiate,  Sept. 25-26, 2017
2nd Yale Spring Invitational, April 18-19, 2015
T2 ACC Championship, Apr. 21-22, 2017
T2 Yale Spring Invitational, April 18-19, 2015
3rd General Hackler Championship, March 11-12, 2017
3rd Primland Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 28-29, 2015
T3 Primland Collegiate Invitational, Sept. 29-30, 2014
T4 Irish Creek Intercollegiate, Apr. 8-9, 2017
T5 Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational, Oct. 4-6, 2015