GREENSBORO, Ga. — LSU’s Chris Wells wrapped up an outstanding career in the purple and gold on Monday as he fired a 1-over par 73 in the final round to finish in the Top 20 at the 2007 Linger Longer Invitational at the Oconee Course at Reynolds Plantation.
Wells earned his team-leading fifth top-20 finish of the season as he tied for 17th with a three-round total of 1-under 215, including a team -low round of 3-under 69 in the first round.
The Mobile, Ala., native has proven to be the Tigers’ top performer during his three-year career as he is a two-time Second-Team All-SEC selection with a team-leading nine top-10 finishes and 73.1 stroke average during that span.
“I can’t believe that it’s already over,” Wells said. “It’s meant everything to me (playing for LSU). It really hit me this morning at breakfast that this would be the last round I’ll ever play. I don’t know what else to say about it other than I owe everything to LSU and this program. It’s been a great three years for me.”
LSU head coach Chuck Winstead talked about Wells’ impact on the program both on and off the golf course as he is also a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll while also being named to the SEC Men’s Golf Good Works Team following the SEC Championships this season.
“We wish Chris the very best and will help him as much as we can to succeed at the next level,” Winstead said. “He’s been a tremendous asset to this program on and off the course, and he really is everything you could hope for in a student-athlete. I’ve enjoyed my time around him, and I think he’s a first-class individual in every sense.”
The Tigers finished in 13th place in their final tournament of the 2006-07 season after posting a three-day total of 25-over 889, including a 9-over 297 in Monday’s final round.
Junior Brian Noonan fired the team’s lowest round of the afternoon with a 1-under 71 as he tied Wells for 17th place with a three-round total of 1-under 215. Freshman Bryant Lach tied for 64th, while fellow freshmen Brian Leveille and Brent Blaum tied for 74th and 75th, respectively.
Wells and Noonan will now turn their attention to the sectional qualifying round for the 2007 U.S. Open Championship next month after advancing past the local qualifying stage at Carter Plantation in Springfield, La., on Wednesday of last week.
Despite not earning a spot in an NCAA Regional this season, Wells said he believes the program is well on its way to becoming one of the premier programs in the Southeastern Conference under Winstead’s direction.
“LSU is going to be one of the top programs in the SEC in the very near future,” Wells said. “Chuck is very knowledgeable about the game and has the respect of everyone who’s associated with the program. He’s bringing in some great players who have the ability to make this a dominant program once again.”
Top-ranked Georgia ran away with the team title at this year’s event as the Bulldogs successfully defended their crown from a year ago with a team score of 29-under 835. Georgia State finished 19 shots back in second place at 10-under 854, while Florida State (856), Tennessee-Chattanooga (863), Charlotte (864) and Alabama (864) round out the top-five.
Senior All-American Chris Kirk of Georgia also took home medalist honors after firing an impressive three-day total of 10-under 206, including a tournament-low 7-under 65 in the first round. Ian Rochester of Memphis was two strokes behind in second place at 8-under 208.
LINGER LONGER INVITATIONAL ? FINAL ROUND RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 864)
1. Georgia 273-286-276 ? 835 -29; 2. Georgia State 287-277-290 ? 854 -10; 3. Florida State 283-279-294 ? 856 -8; 4. UT-Chattanooga 288-282-293 ? 863 -1; t5. Charlotte 290-287-287 ? 864 E; t5. Alabama 285-288-291 ? 864 E; 7. Mississippi State 296-288-284 ? 868 +4; 8. Georgia Southern 284-288-297 ? 869 +5; 9. Augusta State 289-285-296 ? 870 +6; 10. Memphis 290-285-300 ? 875 +11; 11. Louisville 287-287-302 ? 876 +12; 12. North Carolina 296-290-295 ? 881 +17; 13. LSU 297-295-297 ? 889 +25; 14. Kennesaw State 304-299-304 ? 907 +43; 15. Mercer 314-298-315 ? 927 +63
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (Par 216)
1. Chris Kirk, Georgia, 65-72-69 ? 206 -10; 2. Ian Rochester, Memphis, 70-67-71 ? 208 -8; 3. Derek Fathauer, Louisville, 67-71-71 ? 209 -7; t4. Seth Lauer, Florida State, 70-68-72 ? 210 -6; t4. Adam Mitchell, Georgia, 70-69-71 ? 210 -6; t6. Corey Nagy, Charlotte, 70-71-70 ? 211 -5; t6. Joseph Sykora, Alabama, 68-71-72 ? 211 -5; t8. Jonas Blixt, Florida State, 72-68-72 ? 212 -4; t8. Jonathan Hodge, UT-Chattanooga, 69-68-75 ? 212 -4; t8. Carlos Sainz, Mississippi State, 71-74-67 ? 212 -4
LSU SCORES
T17. Chris Wells 69-73-73 ? 215 -1
T17. Brian Noonan 71-73-71 ? 215 -1
T64. Bryant Lach 75-77-77 ? 229 +13
74. Brian Leveille 83-76-76 ? 235 +19
T75. Brent Blaum 82-73-81 ? 236 +20