BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The LSU men’s golf team posted a 2-over par 290 in the final round Tuesday to overcome a three-stroke deficit behind Tennessee and win the inaugural Shoal Creek Intercollegiate at Shoal Creek Country Club.
The Tigers were the only team under par and finished one stroke ahead of the Volunteers with a three-round total of 1-under 863. LSU captured its first tournament victory of the season and its first tournament title of the Chuck Winstead era.
“I’m happy for the guys because they did everything we’ve been talking about and wanting them to do,” Winstead said. “They played in the present and focused on the task at hand. They earned it, and I couldn’t be prouder.
“This shows what potential this team has to be able to go out and compete against some good teams, overcome a three-shot deficit against a team like Tennessee and win the tournament. They played well all day and they deserved to win.”
Sophomore Beck Troutman and junior Chris Wells each recorded their first top-10 finish of the season to lead the Tigers to victory. Troutman finished in a tie for fourth place with All-American Matt Every of Florida with a 5-under 211, while Wells tied for eighth with Stephen Lewton of N.C. State with a 2-under 214.
Senior Andrew Lanahan earned a top-20 finish in his first tournament appearance of the season by tying for 20th with a 3-over 219. Freshman Jarrod Barsamian tied for 38th with a 7-over 223 and sophomore Brent Struthers tied for 55th with a 12-over 228 to round out the scoring for the Tigers.
“The conditions today were a little tougher with more wind than yesterday,” Winstead said. “This was a challenging golf course, especially in tougher conditions. The course didn’t take it easy on them either. They had the pins set in major championship locations, which means you have to be patient to play well. The guys did that, and it showed today.”
The Tigers earned victories over such teams as Alabama, Florida, Georgia State, SMU and Tennessee, which competed with the 30-team field at the NCAA Championships last year. Winstead said competing and winning against such a quality field creates a foundation for success for his team.
“Anytime that you’re rewarded for playing in the present and playing one shot at a time, as well as competing well against a field like this, it does nothing but build confidence,” Winstead said. “It validates their approach to playing the game and gives them a foundation to be successful.”
LSU returns to action in the Gary Koch/Cleveland Golf Invitational hosted by defending SEC Champion Kentucky at Old Memorial Golf Club, Oct. 11-12.
SHOAL CREEK INTERCOLLEGIATE ? FINAL ROUND RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 864)
1. LSU 284-289-290 ? 863 -1; 2. Tennessee 285-285-294 ? 864 E; 3. UAB 295-281-291 ? 867 +3; 4. East Tennessee State 294-289-286 ? 869 +5; 5. Georgia State 288-292-290 ? 870 +6; 6. Notre Dame 291-288-293 ? 872 +8; 7. Florida 290-284-300 ? 874 +10; 8. Florida State 295-284-299 ? 878 +14; 9. N.C. State 298-289-292 ? 879 +15; 10. SMU 297-290-297 ? 884 +20; 11. Alabama 290-304-297 ? 891 +27; t12. Central Florida 300-292-300 ? 892 +28; t12. North Florida 299-294-299 ? 892 +28; 14. Toledo 302-297-299 ? 898 +34; 15. Birmingham-Southern 312-312-308 ? 932 +68
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Par 216)
t1. Rhys Davies, East Tennessee State, 72-70-68 ? 210 -6; t1. Cole Isban, Notre Dame, 69-69-72 ? 210 -6; t1. Jonathan Mount, Tennessee, 70-69-71 ? 210 -6; t4. Matt Every, Florida, 71-67-73 ? 211 -5; t4. Beck Troutman, LSU, 69-72-70 ? 211 -5
LSU SCORES
T4. Beck Troutman 69-72-70 ? 211 -5
T8. Chris Wells 69-72-73 ? 214 -2
T20. Andrew Lanahan 72-73-74 ? 219 +3
T38. Jarrod Barsamian 78-72-73 ? 223 +7
T55. Brent Struthers 74-79-75 ? 228 +12