Eagles Claim Third Place and Three Top-15 Individual Finishes in John Hayt Invitational
2/24/2009 5:03:00 AM | Men's Golf
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. ? Sophomore Joe Monte finished the John Hayt Invitational with a season-low 2-under par 70 third round score to finish in sole possession of sixth place leading the Georgia Southern golf team to a third place finish overall in the 15-team event. The Eagles combined for a three-day 895 (+31) total. Drew Lethem took 12th place with a 223 as Ryan LeFevre carded a 225, placing him in a tie for 13th.
Georgia Southern shot a team 295 third round tally preceded by first and second rounds of 298 and 302, respectively, to finish with a cumulative total 895. The Eagles finished five strokes ahead of fourth-place Georgia State and two behind second-place Arizona State. LSU claimed the titlist honors eight strokes in front of Arizona State with an 885.
“We hung in there on a tough golf course with greens that were hard to land on and gusty winds the entire tournament,” said head coach Larry Mays. “But we persevered on a championship style course and beat some top ranked teams. We can definitely take some confidence out of it.”
Monte was outstanding in the final round as he fired a 2-under par 70 to earn a sixth place finish with a three-day total 219. The Eagle was one of only five players to shoot a 70 in the entire tournament, the lowest tally except for Arizona State's James Byrne's opening round 68.
The Chantilly, Va. native found himself 2-over par after the front six holes before he fired four birdies in a span of five holes to leave him in good position to close out the final six. Monte birdied holes 7 and 8 to finish the front half with an even-par 36. After opening the back nine with a pair of birdies, the sophomore pared the next two holes before a birdie on 14 and bogey on 15 put him 2-under par. Monte pared the final three holes to finish one shot clear of seventh place; Arizona State's Byrne held a one shot advantage in fifth.
Just four strokes behind Monte, senior Lethem shot a 4-over par 76 final round for a three-day total 223.
The Eagle opened play with a bogey, but pared the next seven holes before wrapping up the opening half with another bogey on 9 to leave him 2-over par. Lethem carded two birdies and four bogeys in the back nine, finishing strong with a birdie on 18, for an identical 2-over par 38. Lethem's final round 76 (+4) combined with a 75 and 72 first two rounds took a 12th place finish with a tournament 223 (+7) total.
Closing out Georgia Southern's top three individuals was LeFevre with a 225 (+9) total. The senior shined in his final round, posting an even-par 72. After a bogey on 5, the Eagle birdied holes 6 and 9 to finish the front half with a 1-under par 35. LeFevre's back nine consisted of three bogeys and two birdies on 14 and 18 to round out a back half 1-over par 37 and a third round par 72. LeFevre's third round allowed him to jump from a tie for 29th to finish in a four-way tie for 13th.
“Joe [Monte] and Ryan [LeFevre] carried the team today,” Mays said. “Joe had an amazing day and Ryan bounced back to have a great day.”
After a first round par 72, Logan Blondell finished the tournament 230 (+14) with matching 7-over par 79 second and third rounds. The Eagle tied for 40th as Spencer Fulford finished two strokes back tied for 48th. Fulford carded a tournament 232 (+16) with a personal tournament-low opening round 76.
Georgia Southern takes a short break from play before heading to Hawai'i to compete in the Kauai Collegiate Cup hosted by Western Kentucky. The two-day tournament begins March 13.
JOHN HAYT INVITATIONAL TEAM FINISHES
1.LSU 885 (+21)
2. Arizona State 893 (+21)
3. GEORGIA SOUTHERN 895 (+31)
4. Georgia State 900 (+36)
5. Tennessee 901 (+37)
6. UAB 905 (+41)
7. Alabama 907 (+43)
8. TCU 909 (+45)
9. Coastal Carolina 910 (+46)
10. UNC Wilmington 918 (+54)
11. North Florida 919 (+55)
12. Tulsa 921 (+57)
T13. Furman 927 (+63)
T13. Chattanooga 927 (+63)
15. Duke 932 (+68)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN INDIVIDUALS
6. Joe Monte 76-73-70 - - 219 (+3)
12. Drew Lethem 75-72-76 - - 223 (+7)
T13. Ryan LeFevre 75-78-72 - - 225 (+9)
T40. Logan Blondell 72-79-79 - - 230 (+14)
T48. Spencer Fulford 76-79-77 - - 232 (+16)
84. Sean Brannan 91-82-78 - - 251 (+35)*
*Competed on an individual basis only
Georgia Southern shot a team 295 third round tally preceded by first and second rounds of 298 and 302, respectively, to finish with a cumulative total 895. The Eagles finished five strokes ahead of fourth-place Georgia State and two behind second-place Arizona State. LSU claimed the titlist honors eight strokes in front of Arizona State with an 885.
“We hung in there on a tough golf course with greens that were hard to land on and gusty winds the entire tournament,” said head coach Larry Mays. “But we persevered on a championship style course and beat some top ranked teams. We can definitely take some confidence out of it.”
Monte was outstanding in the final round as he fired a 2-under par 70 to earn a sixth place finish with a three-day total 219. The Eagle was one of only five players to shoot a 70 in the entire tournament, the lowest tally except for Arizona State's James Byrne's opening round 68.
The Chantilly, Va. native found himself 2-over par after the front six holes before he fired four birdies in a span of five holes to leave him in good position to close out the final six. Monte birdied holes 7 and 8 to finish the front half with an even-par 36. After opening the back nine with a pair of birdies, the sophomore pared the next two holes before a birdie on 14 and bogey on 15 put him 2-under par. Monte pared the final three holes to finish one shot clear of seventh place; Arizona State's Byrne held a one shot advantage in fifth.
Just four strokes behind Monte, senior Lethem shot a 4-over par 76 final round for a three-day total 223.
The Eagle opened play with a bogey, but pared the next seven holes before wrapping up the opening half with another bogey on 9 to leave him 2-over par. Lethem carded two birdies and four bogeys in the back nine, finishing strong with a birdie on 18, for an identical 2-over par 38. Lethem's final round 76 (+4) combined with a 75 and 72 first two rounds took a 12th place finish with a tournament 223 (+7) total.
Closing out Georgia Southern's top three individuals was LeFevre with a 225 (+9) total. The senior shined in his final round, posting an even-par 72. After a bogey on 5, the Eagle birdied holes 6 and 9 to finish the front half with a 1-under par 35. LeFevre's back nine consisted of three bogeys and two birdies on 14 and 18 to round out a back half 1-over par 37 and a third round par 72. LeFevre's third round allowed him to jump from a tie for 29th to finish in a four-way tie for 13th.
“Joe [Monte] and Ryan [LeFevre] carried the team today,” Mays said. “Joe had an amazing day and Ryan bounced back to have a great day.”
After a first round par 72, Logan Blondell finished the tournament 230 (+14) with matching 7-over par 79 second and third rounds. The Eagle tied for 40th as Spencer Fulford finished two strokes back tied for 48th. Fulford carded a tournament 232 (+16) with a personal tournament-low opening round 76.
Georgia Southern takes a short break from play before heading to Hawai'i to compete in the Kauai Collegiate Cup hosted by Western Kentucky. The two-day tournament begins March 13.
JOHN HAYT INVITATIONAL TEAM FINISHES
1.LSU 885 (+21)
2. Arizona State 893 (+21)
3. GEORGIA SOUTHERN 895 (+31)
4. Georgia State 900 (+36)
5. Tennessee 901 (+37)
6. UAB 905 (+41)
7. Alabama 907 (+43)
8. TCU 909 (+45)
9. Coastal Carolina 910 (+46)
10. UNC Wilmington 918 (+54)
11. North Florida 919 (+55)
12. Tulsa 921 (+57)
T13. Furman 927 (+63)
T13. Chattanooga 927 (+63)
15. Duke 932 (+68)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN INDIVIDUALS
6. Joe Monte 76-73-70 - - 219 (+3)
12. Drew Lethem 75-72-76 - - 223 (+7)
T13. Ryan LeFevre 75-78-72 - - 225 (+9)
T40. Logan Blondell 72-79-79 - - 230 (+14)
T48. Spencer Fulford 76-79-77 - - 232 (+16)
84. Sean Brannan 91-82-78 - - 251 (+35)*
*Competed on an individual basis only
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