Zabroske Nabs 'Top 5' Finish as Eagles Conclude Golfweek Conference Challenge
9/1/2009 10:28:00 PM | Men's Golf
RIVERSIDE, Iowa – Firing five birdies over the final 18 holes of the Golfweek Conference Challenge, Ryan Zabroske finished tied for fifth for his first collegiate ‘Top 5’ mark. Zabroske shot a final round 70 to complete a tournament-total 2-under 214 for his new collegiate career low. Georgia Southern wrapped up the tournament at Blue Top Ridge tied-11th alongside Texas-Arlington at 894.
Florida State took the title sliding into first place at11-under 853. Iowa grabbed second place at 861, followed by Coastal Carolina at 866. Florida State’s Drew Kittleson and Iowa’s Brad Hopfinger took the individual medalists honors finishing at 9-under 207.
Zabroske led the charge for the Eagles, posting scores in the red over the final two rounds. Teeing off on 11 with the shotgun start, the Alpharetta, Ga., native opened with two birdies on 12 and 17 before trading birdies with bogeys on the front nine. For the tournament, the Eagle recorded 10 birdies to tally his 2-under tournament total 214.
“Ryan had a great tournament and played really solid golf, helping him to his first top-five collegiate finish,” said Eagle head coach Larry Mays. “Hopefully we can build off his good finish and prepare ourselves for the next tournament.”
Fellow senior Spencer Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) earned a share of 36th place finishing at 223 (+7). Fulford’s final round was highlighted by two birdies, seven for the tournament. The Eagle jumped from a 50th-place tie to finish tied for 36th.
Junior Joe Monte slipped in the final round, posting a 6-over 78. The Chantilly, Va., native finished at 229 (+13) for a share of 57th-place. Finishing two strokes behind Monte, senior Matt Deal (Statesboro, Ga.) also carded a final round 78. Deal tallied a 231 over the three rounds to finish in 65th place.
Rebounding from his second round, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) finished tied for 72nd after a final round 76. Blondell pared the front nine but stumbled at the finish to post a 4-over 76.
“This was not really the start to our season that we were looking for, but at least we know where we stand. We know we have some work to do to build ourselves into a championship team,” stated Mays on the season-opening tournament.
Georgia Southern returns to the course at the Springhill Suites Intercollegiate, September 14-15, at the Country Club of South Carolina. Francis Marion will host the tournament on the par-72, 7,120 yard course.
Team Finishes
1. Florida State 287-285-281=853
2. Iowa 288-280-293=861
3. Coastal Carolina 292-284-290=866
4. California 296-288-285=869
5. Baylor 280-295-295=870
6. Middle Tennessee State 285-294-296=875
7. Vanderbilt 293-285-298=876
T8. Xavier 290-291-300=881
T8. VCU 299-290-292=881
10. Illinois State 298-294-298=890
T11. Texas-Arlington 297-297-300=894
T11. Georgia Southern 306-291-297=894
13. New Mexico State 297-301-299=897
14. South Florida 310-294-299=903
15. Memphis 302-299-310=911
Georgia Southern
T5. Ryan Zabroske 74-70-70=214
T36. Spencer Fulford 77-73-73=223
T57. Joe Monte 77-74-78=229
65. Matt Deal 79-74-78=231
T72. Logan Blondell 78-86-76=240
