SAVANNAH, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern golf team garnered the Mizuno Southbridge Intercollegiate, Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 16), winning in a playoff against Winthrop, and notching its first team-win of the season. In three rounds played at the par-72, 6,922 yard Southbridge Golf Club in Savannah, Ga., both GSU and Winthrop shot an 8-under 856 before going into the playoff.
Having overcome a nine-stroke deficit behind Winthrop after the second round, Georgia Southern ultimately edged Winthrop on the sudden-death, hole 18 shooting a 1-under, which included a birdie and three pars. Winthrop's playoff hole consisted of a birdie, two pars and a bogey, just one stroke shy of forcing another playoff hole.
“This is a huge win,” said head coach Larry Mays. “We played three below-par rounds over the two days and we really played well. All five guys had at least one under-par round. They all contributed in the effort. From a team aspect, they've been struggling the last couple weeks. But they stepped up and had a lot of team camaraderie.”
Freshman Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) was the top Georgia Southern golfer at the end of three rounds, finishing in third ? his first career top-5 performance. He carded a 7-under 209, just seven strokes behind individual medalist Kelly Manders of Winthrop, who shot a 14-under 202.
“The third place by Logan is huge,” said Mays. “He's got a great college career ahead of him.”
In only his fourth collegiate tournament, junior Ryan Zabroske (Alpharetta, Ga.) shot a 2-over 218, which included a 71 in the first and third rounds. He finished tied for 22nd place, along with classmate Ryan LeFevre (Boca Raton, Fla.), who shot a pair of 70s in the first two rounds on Monday.
Junior Drew Lethem (Camdenton, Mo.) had a solid round second round (2-under 70) and finished the tournament tied for 29th shooting a 4-over 220.
In only his third career tournament, sophomore Spencer Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) helped give the host school a lift in the sudden-death playoff round, shooting a birdie on the 18th hole. He finished the day carding a 5-over 221 and tied for 32nd place.
“Today was a big, big day for Spencer,” said Mays. “To come out and shoot a 69 in the final round, and then shoot the birdie in the playoffs is huge.”
The last time the Eagles won a team championship was in the Southern Conference Tournament in 2006. The last regular-season tournament won by Georgia Southern was in 2003 at the Pacific Invitational.
For more tournament information, visit the Mizuno Southbridge Intercollegiate Tournament Central.
The Eagles will return to the links, Oct. 26-28, at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C.
