Sept. 28, 2008
Final Stats
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Michael Tulacz turned in his second under par round in three days to earn a tie for fifth and lead the Owls at Vanderbilt University's Mason Rudolph Championship Sunday.
Tulacz eagled the par five 17th and earned birdies on the 12th and 14th to post a two-under backside and a one-under par 70 total at the 7,100-yard, par-71 Vanderbilt Legend's Club South Course. Had it not been for an uncharacteristic bogey on the par five 18th, Tulacz would have finished in a tied for fourth, his best finish since a third place showing at last season's USA Jaguar Invitational.
The rest of the Owls didn't perform as well on Sunday, as none of the remaining traveling squad members managed to improve on their first two rounds. The team's final round 298 dropped them from seventh to solo twelfth.
"Today was very disappointing," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Blake Smart on his team's slide down the leader board. "The guys did not take control of their opportunity, and at this level of competition you get punished quickly."
Matthew Nagy finished inside of the top 25 after coming in tied for 23rd at 217. He was even through 14 after he birdied the par three third and eleventh holes, but a bogey on 15 and a costly double on 17 resulted in a three-over par 74.
J.P. Putnam, who led the Owls in their first event this season, couldn't recover from a triple bogey on the tenth, turning in a final round 75 to finish tied for 53rd at 222. Jeff Karlsson carded KSU's final score of the day. Karlsson failed to maintain the momentum of a career-low 71 in the second round, coming in at 79 on Sunday to finish tied for 62nd at 224.
Parker Houston struggled in the final round, carding a nine-over 80 to finish tied for 72nd.
South Carolina won the team title with a 13-under par 839 total, eight strokes better than second place Kentucky. The Wildcats' Ben Fuqua ran away with the individual title, shooting back-to-back 65's for a 198 total and a seven-stroke win.
"This was another learning experience for us," added Smart. "Hopefully we will be better prepared to handle the pressure next time."
The Owls will return to action on October 6 when they travel to Savannah, Ga. for the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate hosted by Georgia Southern University.
Final Results
12 Owls +20, 286-288-298 - 872
T5 Michael Tulacz -4, 68-71-70 - 209
T23 Matthew Nagy +4, 72-71-74 - 217
T53 J.P. Putnam +9, 72-75-75 - 222
T62 Jeff Karlsson +11, 74-71-79 - 224
T82 Parker Houston +19, 75-77-80 - 232
