LA QUINTA, Calif. – Playing in its first tournament of the spring season, the ETSU men’s golf team wrapped up final round play at The Prestige at PGA WEST on Wednesday afternoon. Senior All-American Adrian Meronk paced the Buccaneers by finishing tied for eighth.
Meronk, who recorded the 17th top-10 finish of his collegiate career, totaled a 54-hole score of 2-under-par 211 (70-68-73) after posting a 2-over 73 on Wednesday. The Wroclaw, Poland, native led the field in par-5 scoring, as the 31st-ranked golfer played the three holes at 7-under over the three-day tournament. Meronk birdied the last seven par-5 holes on the week, while also registering 33 pars and 12 birdies throughout the three rounds.
LSU swept the team and individual titles as the 27th-ranked Tigers overcame a five-shot deficit to rally past defending champion and No. 9 Arizona State. The Tigers fired a final-round score of 19-under 265 en route to cruising to an 18-stroke win over the Sun Devils. LSU ended the tournament at 26-under-par 826 (277-284-265), while senior Zach Wright kept his grip atop the leaderboard as he captured medalist honors with a three-round score of 12-under-par 201 (68-66-67).
Overall, the Buccaneers finished 11th at 21-over-par 873 (297-289-287), while freshman Geuntae Kim bounced back after a shaky start on Monday as he played the final 36 holes at even-par. Kim recorded a 1-under 71 in Wednesday’s final round and finished the tournament tied for 48th at 9-over-par 222 (80-72-70).
Meanwhile, junior Mateusz Gradecki finished tied for 29th at 4-over-par 217 (73-71-73) and senior Gudmundur Kristjansson tied for 57th at 11-over-par 224 (74-78-72). Redshirt freshman Conor Rodrigues recorded his first collegiate eagle on Wednesday as he carded a 3 on the par-5, 537-yard No. 16. Rodrigues also posted a pair of birdies and ended the round at 1-over 72.
The 15-team field featured four teams ranked in the top 10, six in the top 30 and nine in the top 60. Individually, three golfers were ranked in the top 10, four in the top 25 and eight in the top 50.
ETSU returns to action on March 11 when the Bucs begin first-round play at the Seminole Intercollegiate.