STATESBORO, GA. ?? The University of Alabama shot 8-under par, 280, the second lowest round of the 54-hole tournament, Sunday to finish second at the Schenkel E-Z-GO Invitational. Georgia won the tournament’s championship and produced the top two individuals. The Bulldogs shot 287-277-290/854 to finish 10 under par and best the field of 18 teams.
Alabama, trailing Georgia by 17 strokes going into the final round, finished six strokes back and in second place among a field that included eight Top 25 ranked teams. The Crimson Tide shot 292-288-280/860 to finish four under par for the tournament. The 280 Alabama shot on Sunday was the tournament’s second lowest round, bettered only by Georgia’s 277 shot in the second round Saturday afternoon.
The Tide’s Michael Thompson finished third among individuals at three under par, carding round scores of 71-73-69/213 on the par 72 Forest Heights Country Club course in Statesboro, Ga. Thompson was one of three Alabama golfers who shot three under par, 69, in the final round to power the team’s strong finish as Thompson, Matthew Swan and Joseph Sykora all shot 69 Sunday. Thompson’s final round included six birdies, including hole No. 18, a par five, and a double bogey on hole number nine, a par five, that put him one over at the turn. Swan finished T-11th at one over par, shooting 76-72-69/217. Sykora finished T-19th at three over par, shooting 81-69-69/219. Gator Todd finished T-21st at four over par, shooting 73-74-73/220, and Mark Harrell finished T-54th. He shot 72-74-81/227.
Georgia produced the top two individuals. Chris Kirk was medalist, shooting 70-68-72/210 to finish six under par, two strokes ahead of his teammate, Brendon Todd, who shot 73-68-71/212 to finish second at minus four.
Alabama’s second place finish goes with its four tournament championships this season. In its eight tournaments this season, Jay Seawell’s team has four championships, one second place finish, two fourth place finishes and a seventh place finish. Next up for the Crimson Tide will be a trip to Alpharetta, Ga., where it will compete in the April 9-11 U.S. Collegiate Championships at the Golf Club of Georgia.
