Eagles Record 'Top 10' Finish Taking Ninth in Gary Koch Intercollegiate
10/4/2009 11:11:00 PM | Men's Golf
TAMPA, Fla. – Redshirt-freshman Florian Sander earned his second ‘Top 10’ collegiate finish in his first year competing as an Eagle, carding a 211 (-5) tournament total at the Gary Koch Intercollegiate Sunday (October 4). Sander helped lead the Georgia Southern golf team to a ninth-place finish shooting a team total 862 on the par-72, 7,389 Old Memorial Golf Club.
Florida State took the tournament title setting a new tournament 54-hole record by firing an 834 (-30). The Seminoles broke the previous marker of 840 held by Florida in 2005. Texas Tech took second place with an 850, two strokes ahead of Virginia and Florida, who finished tied for third at 852. North Florida completed the ‘Top 5’ recording a tournament-total 854.
Kyle Kopsick of Auburn set a 54-hole individual tournament record taking medalist honors with a 201 (-15). Kopsick bested the previous record set in 2003 by four strokes.
“Today was a tough day for the team. We beat some very talented teams in the tournament, but we are disappointed in our performance today,” said head coach Larry Mays. “With harder pin placements today, the course played a little tougher and the boys had to manage some windy conditions.”
Sander led the way for the Eagles, earning the team’s lowest round on the final 18. The Bregenz, Austria, native fired a 2-under 70 to complete a 5-under 211 tournament total, tying the Eagle for 10th place and setting a new tournament best for the Eagle. Sander posted scores in the red every round of the tournament, opening with a 2-under 70 and carding a second round 1-under 71 to be followed with a final round 70.
Highlighting his final round with an eagle on nine, junior Joe Monte wrapped up the tournament in a 32nd place tie with a 217 (+1). Monte (Chantilly, Va.) posted a 78 on the final 18. Finishing one stroke behind Monte, teammate Ryan Zabroske (Alpharetta, Ga.) capped off the tournament with a final round 2-over 74. Zabroske’s 218 placed him in a tie for 39th place.
Reflecting his opening round, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) shared 51st place with a final round 76. Senior Spence Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) finished the tournament in a tie for 67th at 226 after a final round 78.
Competing as an individual, senior Matt Deal (Statesboro, Ga.) completed the tournament at 5-over 221, putting him in a tie for 51st alongside teammate Blondell.
“Florian had a great tournament for us. We are proud of his performance,” stated Mays. “But our third and fourth scores were not what we needed today.”
The Georgia Southern golf team will close out fall play hosting the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, October 19-20. The tournament will take place on the par-72, 7,016 yard Savannah Quarters Country Club.
