Oct. 13, 2008
Final Stats |
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MACON, Ga. - The damp, windy conditions and the Brickyard at Riverside's thick rough continued to test the Owls Monday, resulting in another drop down the leaderboard in the final round of the Brickyard Collegiate Championship.
The Owls, who finished fifth at the event last season, turned in a second-straight 303 to finish with a 54-hole total of 905. Mercer and Oregon pulled ahead of KSU in the final round, leading to the Owls first last place finish since 2005.
"Today was obviously disappointing for the program and the players," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Blake Smart. "For the most part we played well, but once again we had a terrible finish and managed to undue a lot of the good we had done."
J.P. Putnam was steady on a day when only four under-par rounds were turned in by some of the nation's top collegiate golfers. The Owls junior played gritty in the rough and the wind, leading Kennesaw State with a two-over 72 after carding only three bogeys. Though he shot 72 in the first round as well, he couldn't overcome a second round 80 and finished tied for 42nd.
Christopher Johnson turned in the Owls second-lowest score again, shooting a 76 to finish tied for 54th. Johnson grabbed some momentum with a birdie on the par five sixth before giving back a pair of strokes with birdies on eight and nine. It was Johnson's best three-round score since he a 217 at the USA Jaguar Invitational to open last season.
The Owls other two scores were turned in by Michael Tulacz and Jeff Karlsson. Putts wouldn't fall for Tulacz as he carded a season-high 77 to finish in a tie for 36th. Karlsson was two-over through his first 15 holes before a 10 on the par four 7th sidetracked his round. Showing poise beyond his years, the Owls freshman made par on his final two holes, including KSU's only four on the difficult ninth.
The University of Georgia pulled away from a three-way tie for first to take the team title, coming in at 859. Georgia Tech finished second (864), followed by Clemson (866) in third. The Yellow Jackets Cameron Tringale held onto the lead to take the individual title with a one-over 211.
"We will come up with something to get ourselves squared away," added Smart. "I have confidence we will get ourselves prepared for next week."
The Owls will return home for nearly two weeks before traveling to Atlantic City, N.J. on October 24-26 for the Columbia University Invitational and the final event on their fall schedule.
Final Results
Owls 299-303-303 = 905, 15th of 15
t36 Michael Tulacz 76-69-77 = 222
t43 J.P. Putnam 72-80-72 = 224
t54 Christopher Johnson 73-78-76 = 227
t69 Jeff Karlsson 78-76-78 = 232
80 Matthew Nagy 80-80-83 = 243
