March 31, 2009
Final Stats
BRASELTON, Ga. - Each of the host Owls teams had an individual finish in the top 10, but it wasn't enough as Stetson overtook East Tennessee State to claim the men's title and Gardner-Webb held on for a two-stroke win on the women's side at the Second Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational at Chateau Elan.
Stetson totaled 297 in the final round, outscoring ETSU by six to scrape out the one-stroke win with an 873 54-hole total. Murray State recorded the day's lowest total, a 292, to move up the leaderboard and tie the 24th-ranked Bucs at 874.
Gardner-Webb and Samford turned in identical 318's to maintain their one-two order on the leaderboard. After finishing 15th last year, the Runnin Bulldogs took the 2009 title over Samford after totaling 939. Belmont-Abbey rounded out the top three, twelve strokes back at 951.
Michael Tulacz finished tied for fifth to lead the KSU men after coming in with a two-over par 73 on Tuesday. His 216 total was just three strokes shy of the individual title, which was shared by ETSU's Seamus Power (70-69-74-213) and Stetson's Tommy Parker (73-67-73-213). The Owls senior led the field in eagles (3) and par five scoring (4.33). He also finished tied for fifth with 8 birdies.
Ashley Aguilera led the KSU women's team, turning in her second individual top 10 of the season after tying for seventh at 237. Her final round 77 led the Owls and was Aguilera's lowest total of the event.
Belmont-Abbey's Carley Warrington ran away with the individual title, outscoring second-place Sara Hunt (Samford) by six strokes after coming in at 220. Warrington led the field in par four and par five scoring as well as birdies.
The remainder of the Owl men's squad (302-289-308-899, t7th) didn't fare as well on Tuesday after the temperatures dropped and the wind picked up. Jeff Karlsson closed with a 78 to finish tied for 26th at 224. Matthew Nagy came in three strokes back in a tie for 37th after shooting a 78 as well. J.P. Putnam carded the Owls fourth qualifying score, a 79, to finish tied for 56th.
Though it didn't count towards the team total, the Owls individual, Chad Wilson, turned in KSU's second-lowest score of the day by carding a 76. Wilson's 235 total was good for a tie for 61st.
The Owl women (322-318-320-960, 6th), who were playing with only four golfers due to Malin Becker's ailing shoulder, had three individuals finish in the top half of the field. In addition to Aguilera, Laura Lindsey and Patricia Arana grabbed spots inside of the top 20. Lindsey finished tied for 14th at 240, while Arana tied for 18th at 241.
Lindsey finished second in par five scoring (5.00) and fourth with 33 pars. Arana finished third in par five scoring (5.08) while Lazenby was third with five birdies.
The event, hosted by Kennesaw State University in partnership with the Gwinnett County Sports Commission, featured 23 total men's and women's teams who played over two courses. The men competed on the 6,735-yard, par-71 Woodlands Course while the women played the 5,974-yard, par-72 Chateau Course.
The women's team will get little rest as they return to the road on Wednesday, heading to Oxford, Mississippi for the Ole Miss Rebel Invitational on April 3rd through 5th. The men will be back in action in a couple of weeks when they compete in the Palisades Collegiate Golf Classic in Charlotte, N.C. on April 13th and 14th.
