LAKELAND, Fla. – Senior Justin Connelly (McDonough, Georgia) helped pace the Georgia College Golf team to an even-par final round at the Matlock Collegiate Classic Tuesday. The Bobcats finished plus-28 for the three rounds, good for 12th in the 15-team field.
Connelly recorded his best round as a Bobcat, firing a three-under 69 at the par-72, 7,065-yard Lone Palm Golf Club. He combined that with a pair of 75s yesterday for 42nd place at three-over. Connelly did a lot of his damage on the front nine, carding five birdies.
Freshman Austin Mancilla (Lawrenceville, Georgia) was second on the team and 53rd overall at nine-over, getting progressively closer to par with rounds of 78, 74 and 73. Mancilla’s day featured four birdies, a pair in each half.
Sophomore Drew Duffie (Evans, Georgia) was a stroke behind in 55th, also improving each 18 holes with scores of 77 and 75 with a 74 today. Duffie balanced a triple bogey on the seventh with a pair of birdies. Senior Thomas Hodges (Monroe, Georgia) carded a pair of 76s around a 74 in round two. Hodges was also at plus-10 in 55th. Hodges started strong today, carding scores at-par or better in four of the first five.
Rookie Daniel Davis (Columbus, Georgia) made a seven-spot improvement in today’s action, thanks to firing even par for the second-best round for the Bobcats today. He finished plus-14 in 64th. Davis finished well with three birdies on the back nine.
Of the 11 teams positioned in front of the Bobcats at the tournament, nine are ranked in the top-25 on Golfstat. Host No. 2 Florida Southern College took the team title at a blistering 29 under par. No. 23 Barry University finished six strokes back. The field also included No. 1 University of West Florida, No. 3 Nova Southeastern University, No. 4 Lynn University, No. 5 Florida Tech, No. 11 Saint Leo University, No. 12 Columbus State University and No. 14 Rollins College.
The Bobcats are back in action Feb. 26-27 at the Saint Leo Invitational, hosted by Saint Leo.