SEA ISLAND, Ga. — The 30th-ranked LSU men’s golf team fired a team best 15-over par 295 in the final round Sunday to finish in a tie for sixth place in the 2005 SEC Men’s Golf Championship at Sea Island Golf Club. The Tigers tied 18th-ranked South Carolina with a three-round total of 59-over 899.
LSU head coach Greg Jones said he was pleased with what his team was able to accomplish today and believes the Tigers have some momentum heading into the postseason.
“That was a very good round today,” Jones said. “We were under a lot of pressure to finish in the middle or better to put ourselves in position for a postseason berth. We made some adjustments, had a nice start and came out and played well on a tough golf course, under tough conditions and with a lot on the line.”
LSU was led by senior Brandon Aydlett, who rebounded from an 84 in the first round to fire a 2-over 72 in the second round and even-par 70 in the final round to finish in a 25th-place tie with a total of 16-over 226. Individual champion David Skinns of Tennessee was the only player to record a better score than Aydlett in the final two rounds with a 70 and 68.
“I knew that if I just stayed patient that good things were going to happen,” Aydlett said. “The course is tough enough as it is, and you’re going to struggle some. I knew if I was patient and if I believed in what I could do, I was going to do some good things.”
Jones said he was proud of what Aydlett was able to accomplish considering his start and that there may not be another player on the team that plays with as much pride as Aydlett.
“He’s been in the program five years and loves LSU a lot,” Jones said. “He loves this program, and it means a lot for him to carry that purple bag. There weren’t very many people who beat him the last two rounds. To know what he did after the first round shows what kind of heart and guts he has and how he plays this game.”
Sophomore Chris Wells finished in a tie for 31st with a 17-over 227, while freshmen Brent Struthers and Beck Troutman finished in a tie for 37th with a 19-over 229 in their first appearance in the SEC Championships.
Jones said the experience they gained while playing in this tournament will prove beneficial as they enter the postseason.
“Their time spent on this kind of a golf course will prepare them for what lies ahead,” Jones said. “It will help them prepare for playing in big tournaments. It will help them prepare mentally and have better execution for what they will see in that kind of environment.”
Kentucky captured their first SEC title by two strokes over Auburn with a three-round score of 35-over 875. Defending champion Georgia finished third with a 43-over 883. Skinns took home the individual title by one shot over Richard Scott of Georgia with an even-par 210.
The Tigers anticipate a bid to the NCAA Regionals, which will be played May 19-21. Invitations will be handed out by the NCAA Selection Committee on May 9 at 5 p.m. CDT.
SEC MEN’S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP — FINAL RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 840)
1. Kentucky 290-302-283 — 875 +35; 2. Auburn 296-295-286 — 877 +37; 3. Georgia 302-292-289 — 883 +43; 4. Florida 294-292-302 — 888 +48; 5. Tennessee 298-298-293 — 889 +49; t6. LSU 305-299-295 — 899 +59; t6. South Carolina 298-300-301 — 899 +59; 8. Arkansas 305-304-296 — 905 +65; 9. Alabama 295-300-313 — 908 +68; 10. Mississippi State 303-301-310 — 914 +74; 11. Ole Miss 311-309-295 — 915 +75; 12. Vanderbilt 306-302-309 — 917 +77
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (Par 210)
1. David Skinns, Tennessee, 72-70-68 — 210 E; 2. Richard Scott, Georgia, 68-73-70 — 211 +1; 3. John Holmes, Kentucky, 69-75-71 — 215 +5; t4. Matt Kohn, Kentucky, 74-74-69 — 217 +7; t4. Brett Stegmaier, Florida, 75-70-72 — 217 +7; 6. Tyler McKeever, Auburn, 75-75-68 — 218 +8; t7. David Denham, Georgia, 75-72-72 — 219 +9; t7. Stuart Moore, Auburn, 74-73-72 — 219 +9; t7. Matt Wells, Kentucky, 70-77-72 — 219 +9; t10. Matt Every, Florida, 71-74-75 — 220 +10; t10. Eric Shriver, Arkansas, 72-72-76 — 220 +10
LSU SCORES
t25. Brandon Aydlett 84-72-70 — 226 +16
t31. Chris Wells 75-76-76 — 227 +17
t37. Brent Struthers 75-75-79 — 229 +19
t37. Beck Troutman 79-76-74 — 229 +19
t42. Jeff Riemann 76-79-75 — 230 +20