GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Michael Garretson posted his second straight round of 72 Sunday to lead the University of South Alabama men’s golf team in the final round of the SunTrust Gator Invitational.

The freshman ended the two-day, 54-hole event — which was hosted by Florida at the par-70, 6,704-yard Mark Bostic Golf Course — with a 220 total to finish in a tie for 23rd place in the field of 75 individuals.

Garretson opened with a birdie on his first hole of the day, the 525-yard par-five 12th.  After falling back to 3-over par, he responded with three birdies in a five-hole span on the front nine of the course.  He began that stretch with a four at No. 3, which was playing at 578 yards, and added back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.

“Even though we started at 10 a.m. [Eastern time], the winds were still gusting, it was very cold and the pin placements were extremely difficult,” USA head coach Ben Hannan said.  “Michael played a great round of golf today.  In my opinion it was his best tournament so far, even though he had a higher finish at Southern Miss.  Against this field in these conditions, Michael played very well.”

It was Garretson’s third top-30 finish in five tournaments, and his best since he tied for 14th at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate in his collegiate debut in September.

Tyler Klava tied for 51st at 226 following a final-round 78, with McLain Leberte tied for 55th place two strokes behind him in the overall standings.  The latter had four birdies on the final day of the event, including three on his first nine holes to make the turn at 1-over par.

Lane Hulse finished 70th with a 235 54-hole score, and Jared Burleson moved up two spots into 73rd with a 240 total after a 77 over the last 18 holes.

Second-ranked Auburn used a 288 team score to win the event by 16 shots with an 8-over-par 848 total for 54 holes.  No. 9 Arkansas had the low round of the day with a 287, beating Florida by one stroke to finish second in the field of 14 teams.  The Jaguars had a 306 in the third round, placing 13th with a 902 two-day total.

Dominic Bozelli of Auburn shot an even-par 70 in the final round, earning medalist honors with an 8-under-par 202 total.  Florida’s TJ Vogel also carded an even-par score on the last day of the event to finish second, five shots behind Bozelli; they were the only two players to end the weekend below par.

“Overall, the golf course won,” Hannan observed.  “As a team, the youthfulness showed as we beat ourselves.  With the slope and speed of the greens it was a grind, over 54 holes they eventually broke us.  Even though we are young, we have to get mentally tougher in order to play to our ability.”

The Jags return to action when they play host to the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate at the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course.  The tournament will begin with 36 holes on Monday, Feb. 20.

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—

SunTrust Gator Invitational
Mark Bostic Golf Course, Gainesville, Fla.
Par 70, 6,704 yards
Team Scores: 1) Auburn 279-281-288—848 (+8); 2) Arkansas 288-289-287—864; 3) Florida 278-287-300—865; 4) Central Florida 291-291-289—871; 5) Florida State 285-293-295—873; 6) Liberty 290-288-300—878; 7) UAB 294-292-296—882; 8) North Florida 290-302-291—883; 9) Mississippi State 287-300-298—885; 10) Georgia Southern 293-297-298—888; 11) Memphis 293-294-305—892; 12) Kennesaw State 290-311-299—900; 13) South Alabama 300-296-306—902; 14) Jacksonville 313-312-295—920.

Individual Leaders: 1) Dominic Bozzeli, Aub 68-64-70—202 (-8); 2) TJ Vogel, UF 66-71-70—207; T3) Chase Seifert, FSU 68-71-74—213; T3) Ethan Tracy, Ark 69-72-72—213; T3) Blayne Barber, Aub 68-76-69—213; T6) Sean Dale, UNF 72-72-70—214; T6) Niclas Carlsson, Aub* 68-73-73—214; T6) Ricardo Gouveia, UCF 71-70-73—214; T9) four with 215.

South Alabama Scores: T23) Michael Garretson 76-72-72—220 (+10); T51) Tyler Klava 76-72-78—226; T55) McLain Leberte 74-75-79—228; 70) Lane Hulse 74-77-84—235; 73) Jared Burleson 81-82-77—240.
*denotes playing as an individual