Oct. 26, 2008
Final Stats
Final Combined Results
GALLOWAY, N.J. - Freshman Jeff Karlsson handled the difficult course and conditions at the Columbia Invitational like a seasoned pro, turning in the final round's third-lowest score to finish alone in third at 222.
The 6,966-yard, par-71 Galloway National Golf Club yielded only one under par round in three days, making Karlsson's closing 73 all the more impressive. Karlsson led the Owls in all three rounds, improving his score each day. He came up just one stroke shy of a tie for first with No. 13 Florida's Tim McKenney and No. 21 TCU's Tom Hoge.
"Jeff played great," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Blake Smart. "This was a difficult test with the course and the weather, and for a freshman to come out and show the poise and patience that he did is really impressive. He has as much game as anyone on the team and a mental outlook to compliment his talent."
The Owls finished ninth as a team. They sandwiched a 318 between a pair of 312's, coming in with a 54-hole 942 total on a course that averaged higher scores than any they had played in the entire fall season. Kennesaw outpaced tenth place Western Illinois by 12 strokes and finished only 14 shots out of the top five.
J.P. Putnam snuck inside of the top 25, finishing tied for 22nd at 232 after closing with a four-over 75. Putnam couldn't overcome a second round 81 with an excellent closing 18, but still managed to move 10 spots up the leaderboard.
Christopher Johnson carded his best score of the event on Sunday to finish tied for 55th. The redshirt junior closed with a 78 to move up from a tie for 63rd in his second event of the year.
Parker Houston became the Owls fourth and final scorer on Sunday when Michael Tulacz was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Houston recorded an 86 and finished in 72nd place.
The Owls placed inside of the top five twice during the fall, highlighted by a third place finish at the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate. Karlsson's individual top five was KSU's fourth of the fall.
"We have plenty to work on in the off-season coming off these last two events," added Smart. "We really have struggled on difficult courses, and we are just not getting solid play throughout the lineup."
The men will take nearly three months off for off-season practice before returning to the links on February 9-10 at the Mardi Gras Invitational in New Orleans, La.
