GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 22nd ranked LSU men’s golf team shot a final round score of 284 to finish in eighth place and 3-over par at the 2001 Suntrust Gator Invitational Sunday.
The Tigers total for the tournament was 843 and posted a 273 and 286 in the first two rounds Saturday to finish 1-under par. The Tigers finished 33 strokes behind the host and champion Florida Gators, who shot a final round 265 and finished an amazing 30-under par. The College of Charleston, Augusta State, Ole Miss and Georgia State rounded out the top five.
Tiger senior Alan Morgan finished in a three-way tie for 12th place individually. Morgan shot a 68 Sunday and finished with a total of 207 for the tournament. Sophomore John Humphries and Junior Nathan Goulding were tied with six other golfers for 21st place. Humphries shot a 71 Sunday to finish at even par. Goulding, who of late has been one of the most consistent players for the Tigers shot a 72 Sunday.
Florida’s Camilo Benedetti claimed the individual title, shooting a 66 in the first and final round, as well as a 64 in the second round. Benedetti’s 64 on Saturday was the lowest score shot in the entire tournament. LSU’s Craig Taylor tied for 48th place, and Billy Dressler tied for 63rd.
The Gator Invitational was the sixth tournament for the Tigers this season, with five remaining.. The Tigers eighth place finish was their fifth time in six tournaments to place in the top ten. The Tigers won the Tennessee Tournament of Champions in September, and the Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate in October.
The Tigers will next travel to Jacksonville to participate in the 2001 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship on Feb. 19-20.
Agate to Follow:
FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Florida 269-276-265–810 -30; 2. Coll.of Charleston 273-271-280–824 -16; 3. Augusta State 274-273-278–825 -15; 4. Ole Miss 276-272-284–832 -8; 5. Georgia State 281-277-279–837 -3; 6. Vanderbilt 284-275-279–838 -2; 7. North Florida 287-276-278–841 +1; 8. LSU 273-286-284–843 +3; t9. Ohio State 281-280-283–844 +4; t9. Georgia Southern 280-289-275–844 +4; 11. Alabama-Birmingham 284-279-285–848 +8; 12. Alabama 286-285-284–855 +15; 13. Purdue 293-282-290–865 +25; 14. Central Florida 288-290-291–869 +29; 15. Kentucky 293-299-287–879 +39.
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS
1. Camilo Benedetti, Florida, 66-64-66–196 -14; t2. David Bennett, North Florida, 69-65-65–199 -11; t2. Camilo Villegas, Florida, 65-69-65–199 -11; 4. Bruce McDonald, Coll.of Charleston, 68-65-69–202 -8; 5. Troy Muller, Ole Miss, 66-66-71–203 -7; t6. Jedd McLuen, Coll.of Charleston, 67-68-69–204 -6; t6.Brad Beverly, Georgia State, 70-66-68–204 -6; 8. Jan Are Larsen, Alabama, 70-66-69–205 -5; t9.Jamie Elson, Augusta State, 68-68-70–206 -4; t9.Bubba Dickerson, Florida, 68-72-66–206 -4; t9. Robert Duck, Augusta State, 68-68-70–206 -4.
LSU SCORES
t12. Alan Morgan 66-73-68–207 ?3
t21. John Humhries 71-68-71–210 E
t21. Nathan Goulding 66-72-72–210 E
t48. Craig Taylor 70-73-73–216 +6
t63. Billy Dressler 71-74-74–219 +9.