By: By Al Barba
KENNESAW, Ga. – Behind contributions from all five players, the No. 34 Kennesaw State men's golf team captured the Pinetree Intercollegiate that concluded Tuesday (Oct. 25) at the par-72, 7,108-yard Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw.
The title marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Owls have claimed the event since it began in 2012. KSU carded a final-round 8-under par 280 to record a 54-hole total of 2-under par 862 and a 13-shot victory over Iowa State, which led after 36 holes.
"The last two days we had a lot of fun. We came out here on a mission to win this year since we came pretty close last year," Kennesaw State head coach
Bryant Odom said. "The last two weeks we finished as runner-up and the guys were hungry to get a win. To get a win here at Pinetree is pretty special."
Kennesaw State placed four players in the top 10 and five in the top 15. Freshman
Connor Coffee and senior
Christopher Guglielmo tied for second with 3-under par scores of 213 to finish four shots behind Iowa State's Denzel Ieremia, who claimed individual medalist honors with a 7-under par total of 209.
Senior
Teremoana Beaucousin (72-76-70 – 218; +2) tied for sixth, while sophomores
Pablo Rodriguez-Tabernero Torres (72-77-72 – 221; +5) and
Jake Fendt (73-79-70 – 222; +6) tied for 10th and 13th, respectively.
"We were pretty prepared to play here. It's our home course and we were hoping to get a win out of it and we did," Guglielmo said. "The second back nine I really got it going and I hope I was able to help the team a little bit. Today was a lot harder, the wind picked up and the pins were a little tougher, and there was a little bit more pressure. I think I handled it well. I left a couple shots out there, but the other guys played well and it was a good team win."
Kennesaw State entered the day two shots behind Iowa State and received under-par rounds from Coffee (68), Beaucousin (70) and Fendt (70). Rodriguez-Tabernero Torres shot even even-par to help make up the two-shot deficit and post a convincing win.
"I think we played really well. We were two shots down coming into the final round, we were at home and thought we had a good chance to win," Coffee said. "I got off to a good start today, and as a team we just grinded it out. It was a good team win as we were coming off two second place finishes."
The final-round 280 shot by KSU, marks the third-lowest 18-hole score in the history of the Pinetree Intercollegiate. The Owls now hold the top-four best rounds in the event's history.
Junior
Paul Doig (82-79-78 – 239; +23) led a group of three players who competed as individuals as he tied for 50th. Freshman
Walker Bottomley (82-82-81; + 29) and junior
Buster Bruton (80-81-85 – 246; +30) tied for 61st and 64th, respectively.
The Owls close out their fall season this weekend when they travel to Alabama to compete in the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational hosted by South Alabama at Steelwood Country Club.
Keep up with Owls men's golf by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMGolf or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
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