KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Valdosta State fired a second round 31 and a 302 in the third round to finish sixth at the Newberry Inivtiatonal with a 63-over 927 at the par 72 Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Tuesday, February 17th, 2015.
After battling strong winds during Monday’s first round, the teams fought through rain, 40 mile-per-hour winds and temperatures in the 40’s on Tuesday while completing the tournament.
Limestone claimed the team title as it shot 311 and 296, just one of three team scores under 300 in the three rounds combined, for a 49-over 913 for the tournament. Georgia Southwestern, the first round leader, finished second after shooting 312 and 306 in the final two rounds for a 915 while Flagler went 298-301 in the last two rounds to shoot 922. Erskine followed as it shot 302 and 306 for a 925 while North Greenville bested VSU by a stroke after shooting 306 and 302.
Mount Olive (304-310) tallied a 929 for seventh while Missouri-St. Louis (321-307) followed at 938 and King (306-308) at 943. Mars Hill (310-309) was six more strokes behind for 10th while Catawba (312-304) finished at 951 for 11th. Belmont Abbey (322-313) followed at 958 and Coker (313-314) was at 963 while host Newberry (328-307) finished 14th at 964. Barton (325-318) was seven strokes behind and Brevard College (335-315) tallied a 974 for 16th. Southern Wesleyan (319-317) finished 17th at 980 while Tusculum (332-314) rounded out the field at 993.
Chris Rogers paced the Blazers as he finished tied for fifth at 224 (+6) as he shot 77-77 on Tuesday, while Jake Harpe also tallied a top 20 finish as he was tied for 15th at 231 after shooting 78-71. Davis Roche was three strokes behind Harpe and tied for 25th after shooting 79-76 while Andrew Eunice tied for 51st with a 242 after shooting 80-78. John Fordham rounded out the Blazer squad with a 245 to tie for 63rd as he shot 84-81 in the final two rounds.
Valdosta State returns to action Sunday, March 8th, 2015, when it opens hosts the first round of the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club. The tournament will stretch over three days, with the teams playing 18 holes each day.