The Georgia State Panthers won back-to-back tournaments on consecutive weekends, winning in Kannapolis, N.C., the weekend after sharing first place with Virginia Tech in the Furman Intercollegiate.
The Panthers captured the Irish Creek Collegiate with a 5-over 859 total, edging North Florida by one shot. Georgia State’s closing 289 was the lowest score of the final round, with Griffin’s Davin White and Alpharetta’s Tyler Gruca both shooting 70 to lead the Panthers.
White was low for Georgia State in the tournament, tying for 5th at 2-under 211 with scores of 71-70-70. Jonathan Grey tied for 8th at 69-71-73. Nathan Mallonee, a freshman from Lexington, shot 72-71 the first two rounds, and Gruca closed with scores of 72-70.
The Panthers were one shot back after 18 holes and were tied with North Florida going to the final round. It was Georgia State’s third win of the 2013-14 season and came in the team’s final tournament before the Sun Belt Conference championship.
The weekend before, the Panthers shot 9-under 855 to tie Virginia Tech at Furman. The two teams were tied after 36 holes and both shot 287 the final round. Georgia State’s 281 total the second round was the low score of the tournament.
Grey was low for the Panthers, tying for 2nd at 10-under 206, one behind the medalist, with scores of 69-67-70. White shot 72-68-71—211 to place 3rd. Gruca contributed scores of 72 and 69 the first two rounds.
Kennesaw State was 3rd in the tournament at 862. The Owls were led by Jimmy Beck of Columbus, who shot 73-67-72—212 to tie for 4th. Austin Vick of Evans was 3rd after two rounds with scores of 70 and 68, and ended up 10th at 216. Kelby Burton, also of Evans, tied for 11th at 217.
Mercer tied for 3rd in the Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville, finishing behind defending national champion Alabama and host Vanderbilt. Georgia Southern was 5th in the tournament and Kennesaw took 7th.
Vanderbilt got strong efforts from Jordan Janico (Duluth) and Zach Jaworski (Alpharetta). Janico shot a final round 69 to tie for 12th at 215, with Jaworski closing with a 68 to tie for 17th at 216.
The Bears shot 865, closing with a 3-under 281. James Beale shot 67 in the third round to tie for 5th at 212. Freshman Sean Smothers shot 69 the final round to tie for 12th at 215. Trey Rule of Eatonton shot 69 the second round and finished T17 at 216.
Georgia Southern was led by Charlie Martin of LaGrange, who shot 69-69-73—211 to place 4th. Scott Wolfes of St. Simons Island closed with a 68 to tie for 12th at 215. The Eagles shot 285 the final round for an 868 total.
Kennesaw was led by freshman Terramoana Beaucousin, who tied for 12th at 215. Vick tied for 22nd at 218, with Beck T37 at 223 with a second round 71.
The Owls host the Atlantic Sun championship at Chateau Elan April 20-22.
Georgia Southern was 2nd in its previous tournament in Lake Worth, Fla., shooting 7-under 845 to finish six shots behind Central Florida. Wolfes tied for 4th at 4-under 209 after a final round 67. Hayden Anderson was 6th at 210, with Will Evans of McDonough tying for 7th at 212 and Martin T12 at 215. Henry Mabbett of Griffin tied for 19th at 219.
The Eagles play next in the Southern Conference championship at Pinehurst, N.C.
Central Florida also won the 3M Invitational at Forest Hills in Augusta, hosted by Augusta State. UCF shot 846 to edge Texas by one stroke. Augusta State was 8th at 868. Viktor Edin led the Jaguars, tying for 12th at 214. Maverick Antcliff was T17 at 215 for Augusta.