GAINESVILLE, F.L. – Charlie Martin carded a 2-under-par 68, and Georgia Southern fired the second-lowest team total of the day, an even-par 280 to finish fifth at the SunTrust Gator Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course Sunday, February 15th, 2015.
Georgia Southern (+27), which came into the event ranked 50th in the Golfstat team rankings, placed ahead of No. 6 Vanderbilt (6th, +29), No. 28 North Florida (7th, +34) and No. 34 UAB (10th, +43). It was the Eagles’ best finish at the Gator Invitational since placing fifth in 2006-07.
South Florida (-5) shot a 3-under 277 to take home the title, and Arkansas (+3) took second. Florida State (+5) placed third, and Florida (+14) finished fourth.
Martin’s lowest round of the season shot him 17 spots up the individual leaderboard to tie for 15th. Scott Wolfes and Kim Koivu each carded even-par 70 to tie for 23rd. Archer Price posted a 72 today, and Matt Mierzejewski shot a 75.
Jake Storey, who played in his first collegiate tournament as an individual, posted a 72 today and tied for 27th.
“We stuck to our process, did a good job of grinding and played well today,” said Georgia Southern coach Carter Collins. “A 280 as a team is a nice round at this course, and it gives us positive momentum heading into our next event. It was important for us to bounce back from our struggles yesterday and put a good round on the board.”
Martin played his first seven holes at 3-under and notched four birdies on his first nine. The senior played his final nine 1-over, recording a birdie on his final hole, the par-4, 9th, to post a 68.
Wolfes was 2-under through his first four holes and made the turn at even par. The senior logged two birdies and two bogeys on his final nine and parred his last two holes to finish with a 70.
Koivu was 1-over at the turn and birdied holes 2 and 3 to move to 1-under. He gave one back with a bogey on the par-4, 4th hole and finished with five straight pars for his 70.
Price was even through his first 14 holes with three birdies and three bogeys. The freshman gave a few back coming in and finished with a solid 72.
It was all or nothing for Mierzejewski on his first nine holes with one par, two birdies and the rest bogeys, and the senior shot 1-over on his final nine holes to notch a 75.
Storey had two birdies on his first nine holes and made the turn at 1-over par. The freshman moved to even par with a birdie on hole 1 and then posted six straight pars. He stumbled with a double bogey on his 17th hole of the day, the par-3, 8th hole and finished with a 72.
The Eagles have just over a week off before traveling to Hilton Head for the Wexford Intercollegiate at Wexford Plantation February 23-24, 2015.