Davidson finishes third at Firestone Invitational

AKRON, Ohio – Led by junior Richard Fountain’s second straight 1-under 71 and tie for fifth-place showing, the Davidson men’s golf team finished a season-best third at the Firestone Invitational Tuesday afternoon. The 36-hole event was played on the Par 72, 7,125-yard Firestone Country Club layout.

Due to a fog delay Monday morning, the event was shortened from its originally scheduled 54 holes.

Fountain, the 2011 Southern Conference Champion, recorded six birdies during his final round en route to his sixth career top-five finish.

As a team, Davidson (289-294 = 583) carded a 6-over 294 on the day to finish just one back of nationally ranked Saint Mary’s (Calif.) and 14 behind team champion Ball State (-7).

Like Fountain, John Skeadas (74-71 = 145) fired a second-round 71 to come home tied for 12th out of 90 competitors, just three strokes behind his teammate.

Sam Echikson (T-22nd / 148) also recorded a top-25 showing, while Ralph Blasey and Todd Eckstein finished tied for 51st and 57th, respectively.

Maryland’s Sean Bosdosh claimed the individual title with a 36-hole total of 139 (-5).

Davidson will enjoy a week break before heading to County Kerry, Ireland, for the Waterville Collegiate hosted by Rutgers Oct. 15-16.

Samford finishes 11th at Firestone Invitational

AKRON, Ohio – The Samford University men’s golf team carded a final 36-hole score of 598 (296-302) on Tuesday and finished 11th at the Firestone Invitational being hosted by Akron University at the par-72, 7,125-yard North Course of the Firestone Country Club. Due to frost and rainy weather, the two-day tournament was shortened from 54 to 36 holes.

Samford’s Casey O’Toole turned in a stellar performance at the 17-team Firestone Invitational. The Bulldogs’ senior native of Oneonta, Ala., registered a team-best 1-under-par 143 (69-74) to finish tied for eighth place in the individual standings. O’Toole’s first-round tally of 69 proved to be Samford’s best score of the week.

Maryland’s Sean Bosdosh claimed Individual medalist honors with a final two-round score of 139 (69-70). As a team, Ball State earned the tournament championship by posting a 36-hole mark of 569 (282-287). Saint Mary’s fired a brilliant score of 286 on Tuesday to finish second at 582, while Davidson (583), Akron (584) and USC Aiken (586) rounded out the top five.

Samford’s Bill Nabors concluded the tournament Tuesday with a final 36-hole score of 151 (74-77). Fellow senior Drew Aimone added a two-round tally of 154 (79-75), while Zach Hughes and Chris Clouser rounded out the Bulldogs’ lineup with rounds of 154 (78-76) and 159 (75-84), respectively.

The Samford University men’s golf team will next be in action Monday as the Bulldogs begin play in the 2012 Jerry Pate Invitational hosted by the University of Alabama, which will again be held at the Old Overton Golf Course in Birmingham, Ala.