AUBURN, Ala. – Led by sophomore Nathan Williams tie for 16th, Georgia State finished fifth at the Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner on Monday at Grand National Golf Club.
With a final round 1-under 71, Williams recorded the best finish of his career in a full field event, finishing the 54-hole tournament at 1-under par. He made five birdies in the final round to lead the Panthers after finishing his second round with a 69.
The Panthers shot a final round 6-over 294 to finish in the top five for the third-straight year at the event just across the Georgia-Alabama border. Georgia State finished 4-over for the tournament after shooting a second round 4-under 284 which was the low round of the morning after not being able to complete 36 holes on Sunday.
“It was a long day of play for everyone and I think we got a little tired toward the end,” head coach Joe Inman said. “We would have like to finish a couple spots better, but we still beat some very good teams and will use this as momentum heading to Oregon.
“I think Nathan Williams played some great golf this week. He is playing much better this spring and giving the line-up some depth that we didn’t always have in the fall.”
Senior Nathan Mallonee finished tied for 18th with a final round 72 that included four birdies. He finished the tournament at even par.
Junior Alex Herrmann struggled to a final round 78 to finish at 3-over and tied for 31st. He finished his second round in the morning and shot a 2-under 70, Georgia State’s second-lowest round of the event.
Twin brother Max Herrmann added a 1-over 73 to finish at 11-over and tied for 72nd with sophomore Nick Budd who shot a final round 80.
Host Auburn, ranked No. 23 in the country, survived a late round charge to finish at 13-under and win the event. Troy shot a final round 278 to finish second at 8-under par, while No. 27 Missouri shot the same score to finish 7-under and alone in third place. No. 41 Kennesaw State finished in fourth place at 3-over par, just one stroke ahead of Georgia State.
UNC Wilmington’s Thomas Eldridge earned low medalist honors at 13-under par, while Arkansas State’s Zan Luka Stirn finished second at 10-under par. Minnesota’s Justin Doeden finished in third place at 8-under par, while Auburn’s Trace Crowe and Kansas State’s Roland Massimino tied for fourth at 7-under par.
Georgia State will return to the course starting on Sunday for the Bandon Dunes Invitational in Bandon, Ore.