Senior Ryan Zabroske recorded his first ‘Top 5’ finish tying for fifth.

 

RIVERSIDE, Iowa – Firing five birdies over the final 18 holes of the Golfweek Conference Challenge, Ryan Zabroske finished tied for fifth for his first collegiate ‘Top 5’ mark. Zabroske shot a final round 70 to complete a tournament-total 2-under 214 for his new collegiate career low. Georgia Southern wrapped up the tournament at Blue Top Ridge tied-11th alongside Texas-Arlington at 894.

 

Florida State took the title sliding into first place at11-under 853. Iowa grabbed second place at 861, followed by Coastal Carolina at 866. Florida State’s Drew Kittleson and Iowa’s Brad Hopfinger took the individual medalists honors finishing at 9-under 207.

 

Zabroske led the charge for the Eagles, posting scores in the red over the final two rounds. Teeing off on 11 with the shotgun start, the Alpharetta, Ga., native opened with two birdies on 12 and 17 before trading birdies with bogeys on the front nine. For the tournament, the Eagle recorded 10 birdies to tally his 2-under tournament total 214.  

 

“Ryan had a great tournament and played really solid golf, helping him to his first top-five collegiate finish,” said Eagle head coach Larry Mays. “Hopefully we can build off his good finish and prepare ourselves for the next tournament.”

 

Fellow senior Spencer Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) earned a share of 36th place finishing at 223 (+7). Fulford’s final round was highlighted by two birdies, seven for the tournament. The Eagle jumped from a 50th-place tie to finish tied for 36th.

 

Junior Joe Monte slipped in the final round, posting a 6-over 78. The Chantilly, Va., native finished at 229 (+13) for a share of 57th-place. Finishing two strokes behind Monte, senior Matt Deal (Statesboro, Ga.) also carded a final round 78. Deal tallied a 231 over the three rounds to finish in 65th place.

 

Rebounding from his second round, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) finished tied for 72nd after a final round 76. Blondell pared the front nine but stumbled at the finish to post a 4-over 76.

 

“This was not really the start to our season that we were looking for, but at least we know where we stand. We know we have some work to do to build ourselves into a championship team,” stated Mays on the season-opening tournament.

 

Georgia Southern returns to the course at the Springhill Suites Intercollegiate, September 14-15, at the Country Club of South Carolina. Francis Marion will host the tournament on the par-72, 7,120 yard course.

 

Team Finishes

1. Florida State                          287-285-281=853

2. Iowa                                      288-280-293=861

3. Coastal Carolina                    292-284-290=866

4. California                              296-288-285=869

5. Baylor                                   280-295-295=870

6. Middle Tennessee State         285-294-296=875

7. Vanderbilt                             293-285-298=876

T8. Xavier                                 290-291-300=881

T8. VCU                                    299-290-292=881

10. Illinois State                         298-294-298=890

T11. Texas-Arlington                  297-297-300=894

T11. Georgia Southern               306-291-297=894

13. New Mexico State                297-301-299=897

14. South Florida                       310-294-299=903

15. Memphis                             302-299-310=911

 

Georgia Southern

T5. Ryan Zabroske                    74-70-70=214

T36. Spencer Fulford                 77-73-73=223

T57. Joe Monte                         77-74-78=229

65. Matt Deal                            79-74-78=231

T72. Logan Blondell                   78-86-76=240