Facing a field with eight teams in the top 50 in the country and nine of the top 50 and 13 of the top 100 individuals in the nation, the Panthers three-round score of 872 was their best of the season. Georgia State improved by 41 strokes on the same course as last year, playing in basically the same conditions.
“Playing against the toughest competition we have faced all year, we were able to play our best golf of the season,” commented head coach Joe Inman. “Although the results may not show it, our team came together and competed hard against a great field of golfers.
“This is the exact type of performance that we needed as we start final preparations for the CAA Championships. We wanted to be playing our best golf in April and I think it is safe to say that we are.”
White finished tied for 29th following his second straight 71, making five birdies in his final round. White finished the tournament at even par and his top 30 finish was the first of his career.
“I was proud to see Davin play as well as he has all season,” continued Inman. “For us to reach our goal of returning to the NCAA Regional, we will need Davin to keep playing the way he did this weekend.”
Sophomore Tyler Gruca shot a final round 76 to drop into a tied for 42nd at 2-over par. Senior Clemens Dvorak and freshman Damon Stephenson tied for 55th at 4-over. Dvorak shot a final round 73, including a 2-under 34 on his first nine holes. Stephenson shot 72 on Sunday, making a pair of birdies and a pair of bogeys. Sophomore Grant Cagle shot a final round 74 to round out the line-up. Cagle made four birdies during his final round, finishing the tournament at 9-over par and in a tie for 70th.
Following a pair of identical final round 9-under par 279’s, top-ranked Texas defeated No. 48 Augusta State on the second playoff hole. The two teams finished the event 26-under par. No. 44 Illinois finished third at 18-under, followed by No. 31 Baylor and No. 37 TCU which tied for fourth at 12-under.
As the annual players’ gift, the teams will spend Monday at Augusta National for the first practice round of The Masters.