Cougar Linksters Finish Tied for 19th at South Florida Invitational

Dade City, Fla. --  The Columbus State men's golf team struggled to a final round 312 (+24) on Sunday and finished tied for 19th at the 54-hole South Florida Invitational.  Division II Florida Southern was solid all weekend and won the team title by five shots over Middle Tennessee State.  The Mocs' three-round total of 852 (-12) included rounds of 288-281-283.  Florida Southern's Matt Stauch led wire-to-wire and won the individual title with rounds of 68-65-71 (-12).  

Host USF tied for 13th with Missouri State at 880.  The tournament was contested at the Par 72, 7153 yard Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club.  

The lone bright spot for the Cougars on Sunday was junior Michael Hicks.  Hicks carded his second 73 of the tournament and tied for 55th at 224 (73-78-73).  Stephen Swanepoel closed with an 80 and finished tied for 61st at 225 (73-72-80).  Ben Kishigian also signed for an 80 to finish tied for 81st at 228 (75-73-80).  Justin Grice finished tied for 93rd at 231 (76-76-79).  Sophomore Steven Paine withdrew from the final round with an injury.

North Florida finished third at 860, followed by South Alabama (864), and Xavier (865).  Nebraska and Campbell tied for sixth at 869 while Eastern Michigian was eighth at 874.  Arkansas State and Troy tied for ninth at 875.  Louisville was 11th at 877, followed by Jacksonville State at 878.  Villanova (891) was 15th, Florida Atlantic (896) 16th, DePaul and Austin Peay State tied for 17th at 900, while CSU and Marquette tied for 19th at 901.  Rhode Island (902), Cincinnati (910), and Marshall (921) rounded out the 23-team field.

CSU returns to the links for Valdosta State's Southeastern Collegiate on March 14-16.  The 54-hole event will take place at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga.