Georgia State won the AutoTrader.com Classic at Berkeley Hills, with the host Panthers edging out South Florida and South Alabama for the title.
The Panthers finished with a tournament record score of 19-under 845, two strokes ahead of South Florida and four in front of South Alabama. After scores of 282 and 283 the first day, Georgia State trailed South Alabama by two shots and South Florida by one after 36 holes, but closed with an 8-under 280 total the final day to pull out the victory.
The 280 score was the Panthers’ lowest since 2008.
Mercer placed sixth in the tournament at 859, with Georgia Southern tying for seventh at 861.
Leading the way for Georgia State was senior Tyler Gruca from Alpharetta, who tied for second at 8-under 208 highlighted by a second round 65. Gruca shot 70 the final day. He finished two shots behind medalist Chase Koepka of Florida State.
Freshman Nathan Mallonee of Lexington was next for the Panthers at 210, tying for sixth with scores of 69-72-69—210. Damon Stephenson tied for 12th at 212, with Griffin’s David White T25 at 217. Stephenson shot 70 and White 71 the final round.
Trey Rule of Eatonton led Mercer with scores of 74-69-66—209, tying for fourth. Hans Reimers was T18 at 214 and James Beale shot 69-71 the final two rounds.
The top finisher for Georgia Southern was St. Simons’ Scott Wolfes, who tied for eighth at 211. Will Evans of McDonough was T25 at 217.
Also tying for eighth was Acworth’s Michael Garretson, who was low for South Alabama at 211.