MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Senior Jack Hiluta equaled his best round of the season Tuesday with a 4-under-par 68, earning medalist honors while helping the University of South Alabama men’s golf team post the low score of the day to come from behind and claim the team title for the second year in a row at the Memphis Intercollegiate.

The Jaguars recorded an even-par 288 total as a group, as Chris Piumelli posted an even-par 72, Blake Kelley shot a 73 and McLain Leberte had a 75 over the final 18 holes of the tournament.  Trailing by four entering the day, USA’s 878 54-hole score was enough to finish seven strokes ahead of Akron; third-place Missouri recorded an 892 team total.  Fifteen schools competed in the event.

Hiluta was the medalist for the second time in 2010 — he also accomplished the feat at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate in February to begin the spring campaign — after firing a 7-under-par 209 total, the lowest score he has posted over 54 holes in three-plus seasons with the program.  He finished five shots ahead of Missouri’s Jace Long.

Piumelli recorded his second top-three finish in the last seven days with an even-par 216 two-day score, and Kelley tied for 13th place out of 80 individuals with a 222 total over three rounds.

The final round of the event began approximately two hours late because of poor weather, and play was delayed after eight holes as well because of rain.

“It was cold and real windy, and I think we played under a tornado watch,” Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan commented.  “The conditions were challenging to say the least.  It was a day of perseverance and fight for our guys, except for Jack we had a mediocre start.  But they continued to battle and hang on, and we closed very strong over the last five to six holes.

“Jack was in complete control from the get go, he played a fantastic round,” he continued.  “Chris had another great event, Blake made a bunch of pars — which under these conditions made for a terrific round — and McLain really held it together, he was a huge competitor today.”

“I really think the key for me this week was just playing the shot in front of me,” stated Hiluta.  “I knew from playing here the last three years that this was going to be a tough golf course, and that par goes a long way.  I didn’t worry about my score, you can’t do that in these conditions or else you can lose shots quickly.

“My game was tight this week and I was able to keep my focus, which gave me a lot of confidence.”

Hiluta started with a birdie at the par-five first hole, and after a bogey at No. 4 he sank three straight birdies to move to 3-under par at the 7,259-yard, par-72 Colonial Country Club South Course.  He played the back nine in 2-under par after adding birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, matching his low score of the season recorded in the second round of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.

It’s the second straight season that the Jags have had the tournament medalist after Marc-Etienne Bussieres shot an event-record 9-under-par 207 a year ago.

Piumelli was 2 over through four holes, but rebounded with a three on No. 6 to post a 37 on the front side.  He had birdies on the 14th and 16th holes as well to finish with his seventh round of par or better in the fall.

Starting on the second hole, Kelley’s lone birdie came on the par-three third.  After a pair of bogeys, he finished with his low round of the event and second top-20 performance of the season after beginning the day in a tie for 24th place.

McLain Leberte — who finished 53rd with a 231 54-hole score — was 4-over par when he got to the back nine, but carded birdies on Nos. 10 and 14.  He too ended the tournament with his low 18 holes of the event.

Chris Bockstael, competing as an individual, had an 81 on the final day to finish tied for 64th place with a score of 236, and Christian Blanchet shot an 88 to tie for 78th, 10 strokes behind Bockstael.

After finishing outside the top 10 in their first two tournaments of the year, the Jaguars recorded three straight top-four results in October.  The Memphis Intercollegiate was the last of five fall events for the Jags, who will open the spring season when they play host to the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Course Feb. 21-22.

“I’m real proud of the way these guys closed out the fall season,” Hannan said.  “They continued to prepare and stayed focused, which shows the maturity and confidence this group is gaining.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—

Memphis Intercollegiate
Colonial Country Club South Course, Memphis, Tenn.
Par 72, 7,259 yards

Team Scores: 1) South Alabama 293-297-288—878 (+14); 2) Akron 293-293-299—885; 3) Missouri 296-299-297—892; 4) Memphis 296-297-301—894; 5) UALR 303-296-297—896; 6) Tulsa 299-297-301—897; T7) Mercer 292-305-302—899; T7) Louisiana-Lafayette 300-297-302—899; 9) Iowa State 306-297-298—901; 10) Arkansas State 296-297-309—902; 11) Louisiana Tech 298-298-307—903; 12) Marshall 307-302-298—907; 13) Southern Mississippi 305-300-303—908; 14) Wisconsin 312-302-316—930; 15) Army 321-307-311—940.

Individual Leaders: 1) Jack Hiluta, USA 69-72-68—209 (-7); 2) Jace Long, Miss 77-68-69—214; 3) Chris Piumelli, USA 73-71-72—216; T4) Ethan Savoy, ULL 74-69-76—219; T4) Stuart Ballingall, Miss 72-74-73—219; T6) Jonathan Fly, Mem 72-73-75—220; T6) Josh Cone, Mer 70-74-76—220; T8) four individuals tied with 221.

South Alabama Scores: 1) Jack Hiluta 69-72-68—209 (-7); 3) Chris Piumelli 73-71-72—216; T13) Blake Kelley 74-75-73—222; T53) McLain Leberte 77-79-75—231; T64) Chris Bockstael* 77-78-81—236; T78) Christian Blanchet 79-79-88—246.
*denotes competing as an individual