KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — The LSU men?s golf team shot a final-round 1-over 289 Tuesday to finish eighth at the Cleveland Golf/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate at Osprey Point Golf Club.
LSU finished with a 6-over par 870 total for the two-day event at Kiawah Island, S.C., its first tournament of the 2001-02 season. The Tigers began last season at the Cleveland Intercollegiate and finished third. The host school College of Charleston won the tournament, shooting a 17-under 847 to finish seven strokes ahead of Alabama, the defending champion. Augusta State, BYU and Maryland rounded out the top five.
The Tigers were led by junior Garrett Prather?s 15th place finish. The Crowley, La., native shot a 2-under 214, including a 2-under 70 in the first round Monday. The 214 marks a career low tournament for Prather. His previous low was a 218 shot at the 2000 Cleveland Intercollegiate in which he finished seventh. True freshman Heath West, making his first collegiate appearance, finished 25th, shooting a 2-over 218. West shot a 71 in round on Monday. Junior John Humphries tied for 27th place, and Nathan Goulding and Neil Self tied for 57th place.
Self also made his LSU debut after redshirting last season. The Florence, Ala., native posted a 227 total. LSU?s lone senior Nathan Goulding rebounded from two mediocre rounds with a 2-under 70 in Tuesday?s final round. The 70 matched Prather?s first round score as LSU?s two lowest of the tournament.
“Today was a decent round, but altogether it was real sloppy”, said head coach Greg Jones.
The news of the terrorist attack in New York City reached the players on the course after nine holes on Tuesday, and seemed to affect their games.
“The guys found out about the bombing about halfway through the round today, and after that all the players seemed to be distracted.”
“We got some guys some good experience at this tournament. We have a lot to work on, and a lot of time to do it.”
LSU will not participate in tournament play again until the Adams Cup Oct. 2-3 at Newport, R.I. The Tigers were forced to bus home Tuesday due to all flights being cancelled across the country. Jones hoped to make it to Auburn, Ala., Tuesday evening and stay there for the night.
TEAM SCORES
1. College of Charleston 286-280-281–847 -17
2. Alabama 279-290-285–854 -10
3. August State 288-281-287–856 -8
4. BYU 286-283-288–857 -7
5. Maryland 294-282-284–860 -4
6. Tulsa 296-284-286–866 +2
7. Baylor 290-283-294–867 +3
8. LSU 286-295-289–870 +6
t9. South Carolina-Aiken 290-300-284–874 +10
t9. South Alabama 287-284-303–874 +10
11. Charleston Southern 301-291-292–884 +20
12. Central Florida 304-285-297—886 +22
13. Florida State 301-294-296–891 +27
14. Mississippi State 292-312-298–902 +38
15. Kent State 308-300-303–911 +47
TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS
1. David Ryles, Charleston Southern 67-68-68–203 -13
2. Manuel Merizalde, BYU 72-69-67–208 -8
T3. Ryan Gildersleeve, South Alabama 69-68-72–209 -7
T3. Corey Brigham, Maryland 73-67-69–209 -7
T3. Oliver Wilson, Augusta State 71-69-69–209 -7
LSU SCORES
T15. Garrett Prather 70-73-71–214 -2
T25. Heath West 71-74-73–218 +2
T27. John Humphries 71-73-75–219 +3
T57. Nathan Goulding 74-83-70–227 +11
T57. Neil Self 75-75-77–227 +11