CHOUDRANT, La. – The University of South Alabama men’s golf team had three of its six players post their best score of the 2nd Annual Louisiana Tech Bulldog Classic in the event’s final round Tuesday, finishing the tournament with two individuals in the top 20.

Jack Hiluta recorded a 1-under-par 71, the lowest figure for a Jaguar during the three-day competition, to post a 222 54-hole total and tie for 15th place.  It was his team-leading fourth top-20 finish of his senior season as well as his 12th round of par or better this year, which also tops the squad.

Just seven of the 68 players in the event posted subpar rounds on the day.

“Jack really bounced back today and played a great round of golf,” Jag head coach Ben Hannan stated.  “He was in complete control and never over par at any point during the day, and he birdied his last hole to finish at 1 under.”

Both Blake Kelley and David Leathem carded 1-over-par 73s in the final round at the par-72, 7,105-yard Squire Creek Country Club, as the latter lowered his score each day after the opening 18 holes of the tournament on Sunday.  Kelley moved up into a tie for 30th place after shooting a 226 overall, while Leathem — who was participating as an individual — ended up tied for 46th at 232; he was tied for 66th after the first round of play.

“Blake is another guy who bounced back today, he made a few more putts today which kept him in the game,” Hannan commented.  “He just hit more quality shots today, and par went a long way on this golf course.  David had a very good round and got better each day.  He just needs to continue to get experience and improve.”

McLain Leberte posted his first top-20 finish since the UK Bluegrass Invitational last April after ending up one stroke behind Hiluta in a tie for 19th place with a 223 54-hole score after a final-round 76.  Lane Hulse shot a 77 for a 229 total to tie for 38th, while Christian Blanchet recorded an 81 and finished 61st overall.

The Jaguars matched their opening-day total of 297 over the last 18 holes, tying for seventh place with a three-round score of 899.

Middle Tennessee, the top-ranked team in the field of 12 at No. 46 in the most recent Golfweek/Sagarin ratings, shot a 2-over-par 290 to win the event with a 4-over-par 868 total over the three days, with Louisiana Tech in second place 18 strokes behind.  MT’s Hunter Green was the event’s medalist, using a 2-under-par 70 to post a 3-under-par 213 54-hole score; he was the only individual in the field to shoot below par, winning the title by three shots.

USA will be off until the BancorpSouth Intercollegiate, hosted by Mississippi, begins play on Monday, April 4.

“We’re on the back half of spring break, so we’re actually giving the guys the last three days of it off to rest and clear their heads,” said Hannan.  “Starting on Monday it will be full speed ahead in preparation for the conference tournament, where we will work individually on aspects of everyone’s game.”

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—

2nd Annual Louisiana Tech Bulldog Classic
Squire Creek Country Club, Choudrant, La.
Par 72, 7,105 yards

Team Scores: 1) Middle Tennessee 278-300-290—868 (+4); 2) Louisiana Tech 285-308-293—886; 3) Southeastern Louisiana 289-305-297—891; 4) Missouri State 296-298-298—892; T5) Jacksonville State 296-304-295—895; T5) Texas State 314-294-287—895; T7) South Alabama 297-305-297—899; T7) Southern Mississippi 290-310-299—899; 9) Rice 292-314-298—904; T10) UALR 308-305-299—912; T10) McNeese State 295-320-297—912; 12) Stephen F. Austin 314-311-302—927.

Individual Leaders: 1) Hunter Green, MT 70-73--70—213 (-3); 2) Jason Millard, MT 68-75-73—216; T3) Brad Simons, MT 70-73-74—217; T3) Sam Forgan, LTU 69-78-70—217; T3) Alastair Jones, TSU 80-70-67—217; 6) Michael Whitehead, Rice 73-73-72—218; T7) Derek Plucienski, USM 69-75-75—219; T7) Linus Gillgren, UALR 70-75-74—219; T7) Jordan McLaurin, MSU 71-74-74—219; T7) Ben Suarez, McN 69-78-72—219.

South Alabama Scores: T15) Jack Hiluta 73-78-71—222 (+6); T19) McLain Leberte 75-72-76—223; T30) Blake Kelley 74-79-73—226; T38) Lane Hulse 76-76-77—229; T46) David Leathem* 84-75-73—232; 61) Christian Blanchet 75-82-81—238.
*denotes competing as an individual