KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The LSU men’s golf team shot a final-round 1-under par 287 to win the 2000 Tennessee Tournament of Champions on Tuesday at Holston Hills Country Club. LSU senior Alan Morgan earned his first medalist honor as a Tiger at 7-under par.
“This is a huge win for this team,” LSU head coach Greg Jones said. “The best thing about the win is that everybody contributed. I’m thrilled with the win. We just got a great effort from everybody. It’s a great feeling. The guys have worked very hard. Hopefully this is the first of many more.”
The Tigers opened the day at 12-under par and in second place, one stroke behind Virginia, and beat the second-place Caveliers by five strokes. Tournament host Tennessee finished third at 5-under 859, while North Carolina State (4-under 860) and Augusta State (2-under 862) rounded out the top five.
Along with Morgan’s first-place finish, John Humphries was also in the top 10 at seventh place (3-under 213), Billy Dressler finished tied for 11th at 2-under 214, while Garrett Prather and Craig Taylor tied for 32nd at 5-over 221.
Although standing at 5-over through 14 holds, Prather inspired the Tigers to victory by birdying the final four holes and becoming the Tigers’ final of four counting scores.
Jones picked up the first tournament title in his two seasons in Baton Rouge. Jones won 15 team titles while at South Alabama from 1993-99.
The men’s golf program won the school’s first title since winning The Bridges All-American in 1999. This is LSU’s 93rd all-time victory dating back to the Southern Intercollegiate title in the 1935-36 season.
In a very competitive field, LSU finished ahead five ranked teams in the MasterCard Preseason Rankings, including No. 11 Florida (8th), No. 15 Augusta State (5th), No. 17 North Florida (9th), No. 18 Auburn (7th) and No. 25 North Carolina State (4th).
The victory came in LSU’s second tournament of the fall 2000 season. The Tigers finished third in last week’s Cleveland Golf/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate behind Alabama and Tulsa.
For Morgan, a 1999 transfer from South Alabama, this was his second career victory and his first as a Tiger. Morgan won the 1999 Ron Smith/South Alabama Invitational at even par.
He became the ninth player since 1982 to win an individual title. Former Tiger All-American David Toms leads the school in career tournament victories (since 1982) with six.
Morgan, a product of Barbe High School in Lake Charles, La., qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in August along with teammate Billy Dressler. Both fell in the first round of match-play after leading early in the round.
LSU returns to action on Oct. 9-10 at the Red River Shootout in Dallas, Texas.
AGATE TO FOLLOW
Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions
Holston Hills Country Club
Knoxville, Tenn.
Sept. 18-19
Par 72, 6932 Yards
TEAM RESULTS (288-864)
1. LSU 281-283-287 — 851 -13; 2. Virginia 283-280-293 — 856 -8; 3. Tennessee 288-280-291 — 859 -5; 4. North Carolina State 287-285-288 — 860 -4; 5. Augusta State 286-288-288 — 862 -2; 6. East Tennessee State 279-291-295 — 865 +1; 7. Auburn 300-281-289 — 870 +6; 8. Florida 289-292-294 — 275 +11; 9. North Florida 293-297-290 — 880 +16; 10. Florida State 299-286-299 — 884 +20; 11. Georgia Southern 296-293-298 — 887 +23; 12. Central Florida 294-295-305 — 894 +30; 13. Southern Mississippi 304-299-301 — 904 +40; 14. Chattanooga 315-3-6-316 — 937 +73.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top five)
1. Alan Morgan (LSU) 70-67-72 — 209 -7; 2. Jamie Elson (Augusta State) 74-66-70 — 210 -6; 3. Andy Brimer (Tennessee) 71-68-72 — 211 -5; 3. Oliver Wilson (Augusta State) 74-68-72 — 211 -5; 3. David Sanchez (North Carolina State) 68-73-70 — 211 -5.
LSU RESULTS
1. Alan Morgan 70-67-72 — 209 -7
t7. John Humphries 74-70-69 — 213 -3
t11 Billy Dressler 69-72-73 — 214 -2
t32 Garrett Prather 72-76-73 — 221 +5
t32 Craig Taylor 70-74-77 — 221 +5
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