Eagles 12-Under After Opening Day of Gary Koch Intercollegiate
10/4/2009 2:50:00 AM | Men's Golf
TAMPA, Fla. – Firing 39 birdies for a team total 564 (-12) on the opening day of the Gary Koch Intercollegiate, the Georgia Southern men's golf team stands in a tie for fifth place heading into the final round of competition. The Eagles fired a 7-under opening round (281) to be followed by a 5-under second round (283) tally led by junior Joe Monte's 5-under 139 on the day. A field of 15 teams are competing for the title on the par-72, 7,389 Old Memorial Golf Club.
“Today's conditions were perfect for low scores, and that is exactly what we got,” said head coach Larry Mays. “I'm proud of the guys for hanging in there and playing solid all day. We had a solid two rounds of play from everyone making a lot of birdies with very few mistakes.”
Teeing off on the front nine, Monte, a Chantilly, Va., native, opened competition carding 3-under at the turn and shot even-par on the back nine for a 3-under 69 opening round scorecard. Monte jump started his opening round, birding three of the first four holes, tallying seven total en route to his opening round and 12 on the day. The junior succeeded his sub-par opening round with a 2-under par 70 second round to complete the day standing in 13th place individually. Monte excelled on the front nine the entire day, carding 3-under and 4-under first and second rounds, respectively.
Trailing his teammate by a mere two strokes, redshirt-freshman Florian Sander (Bregenz, Austria) enters the final day of competition holding a 3-under 141 in a tie for 23rd place. A 2-under par 70 round one was produced by 1-under front and back nines, respectively. Sander completed his 3-under opening day total with a second round 1-under 71.
Posting an even-par 144 on the day, senior Ryan Zabroske shares 42nd place after the first two rounds. The Alpharetta, Ga., native opened play with a 1-under 71 after firing a back nine 2-under 34. The senior followed his below par round with a 1-over 73 second round to finish in 42nd place.
Shaving seven strokes off his opening round tally, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) responded to a first round 76 by firing a second round 69. Blondell shares 46th place heading into the final round. Completing the Eagles' starting five, senior Spence Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) owns a portion of 60th place after posting a 1-under 71 first round coupled with a 77 second round.
Competing as an individual, senior Matt Deal stands alongside teammate Zabroske tied for 42nd with an even-par 144. Deal paired rounds of 73 and 71, respectively, to card a 144. Deal's second round 71 marks a new collegiate career low 18 for the Statesboro, Ga., native.
“We knew heading into this tournament that we were going to face our toughest competition all fall and I think our team went out ready to play today,” stated Mays. “If we can get a good round tomorrow, we will finish off a solid tournament performance and hopefully jump a few spots on the leaderboard.”
The Gary Koch Intercollegiate concludes Sunday, October 4. Georgia Southern tees off at 8:45 a.m. with Augusta State and Virginia. The Eagles will open the final day of play with Fulford teeing off first on the front nine.
Day One Team Results
1. Texas Tech (271-279=550) -26
2. Florida State (274-280=554) -22
3. Florida (277-283=560) -16
4. Virginia (282-279=561)-15
5. Augusta State (286-278=564) -12
Georgia Southern (281-283=564) -12
7. LSU (275-293=568) -8
8. North Carolina (281-288=569) -7
9. Mississippi (285-285=570) -6
Auburn (290-280=570) -6
11. North Florida (290-281=571) -5
12. Kentucky (288-285=573) -3
13. UAB (287-287=574) -2
14. East Tennessee State (294-283=577) +1
15. South Florida (295-302=597) +21
Georgia Southern Individuals
T13. Joe Monte 69-70=139 (-5)
T23. Florian Sander 70-71=141 (-3)
T42. Ryan Zabroske 71-73=144 (E)
T42. Matt Deal 73-71=144 (E)*
T46. Logan Blondell 76-69=145 (+1)
T60. Spence Fulford 71-77=148 (+4)
“Today's conditions were perfect for low scores, and that is exactly what we got,” said head coach Larry Mays. “I'm proud of the guys for hanging in there and playing solid all day. We had a solid two rounds of play from everyone making a lot of birdies with very few mistakes.”
Teeing off on the front nine, Monte, a Chantilly, Va., native, opened competition carding 3-under at the turn and shot even-par on the back nine for a 3-under 69 opening round scorecard. Monte jump started his opening round, birding three of the first four holes, tallying seven total en route to his opening round and 12 on the day. The junior succeeded his sub-par opening round with a 2-under par 70 second round to complete the day standing in 13th place individually. Monte excelled on the front nine the entire day, carding 3-under and 4-under first and second rounds, respectively.
Trailing his teammate by a mere two strokes, redshirt-freshman Florian Sander (Bregenz, Austria) enters the final day of competition holding a 3-under 141 in a tie for 23rd place. A 2-under par 70 round one was produced by 1-under front and back nines, respectively. Sander completed his 3-under opening day total with a second round 1-under 71.
Posting an even-par 144 on the day, senior Ryan Zabroske shares 42nd place after the first two rounds. The Alpharetta, Ga., native opened play with a 1-under 71 after firing a back nine 2-under 34. The senior followed his below par round with a 1-over 73 second round to finish in 42nd place.
Shaving seven strokes off his opening round tally, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) responded to a first round 76 by firing a second round 69. Blondell shares 46th place heading into the final round. Completing the Eagles' starting five, senior Spence Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) owns a portion of 60th place after posting a 1-under 71 first round coupled with a 77 second round.
Competing as an individual, senior Matt Deal stands alongside teammate Zabroske tied for 42nd with an even-par 144. Deal paired rounds of 73 and 71, respectively, to card a 144. Deal's second round 71 marks a new collegiate career low 18 for the Statesboro, Ga., native.
“We knew heading into this tournament that we were going to face our toughest competition all fall and I think our team went out ready to play today,” stated Mays. “If we can get a good round tomorrow, we will finish off a solid tournament performance and hopefully jump a few spots on the leaderboard.”
The Gary Koch Intercollegiate concludes Sunday, October 4. Georgia Southern tees off at 8:45 a.m. with Augusta State and Virginia. The Eagles will open the final day of play with Fulford teeing off first on the front nine.
Day One Team Results
1. Texas Tech (271-279=550) -26
2. Florida State (274-280=554) -22
3. Florida (277-283=560) -16
4. Virginia (282-279=561)-15
5. Augusta State (286-278=564) -12
Georgia Southern (281-283=564) -12
7. LSU (275-293=568) -8
8. North Carolina (281-288=569) -7
9. Mississippi (285-285=570) -6
Auburn (290-280=570) -6
11. North Florida (290-281=571) -5
12. Kentucky (288-285=573) -3
13. UAB (287-287=574) -2
14. East Tennessee State (294-283=577) +1
15. South Florida (295-302=597) +21
Georgia Southern Individuals
T13. Joe Monte 69-70=139 (-5)
T23. Florian Sander 70-71=141 (-3)
T42. Ryan Zabroske 71-73=144 (E)
T42. Matt Deal 73-71=144 (E)*
T46. Logan Blondell 76-69=145 (+1)
T60. Spence Fulford 71-77=148 (+4)
2026 Only For Southern
Thursday, February 26
2026 Georgia Southern Football Ticket Video
Wednesday, February 25
The GATA Zone - Air Rifle
Thursday, February 19
Walk and Talk: J.I. Clements Stadium
Friday, February 13
