MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Heading into the final round of the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Men’s Golf Championships, University of South Alabama head coach Ben Hannan prepared the Jaguars for a one-day tournament.  Behind the efforts of Lane Hulse and Parker Jones, USA was within two strokes of winning that competition.

The duo both recorded even-par 72s Wednesday over the last 18 holes of the event, and with McLain Leberte contributing a 74 the Jags posted a 295 team total in the final round.  Not only did it mark the second day in a row that USA has improved by at least five shots at the championships, the score was within two strokes of the round of the day.

“The guys played really hard today and competed,” stated Hannan.  “With the wind picking back up, anything around par was good golf.  The more you play this course, the more familiar you become with the lines, the angles into the greens and the greens themselves, so I think the guys were able to get a little more comfortable.

“But what I’m most pleased about was their desire to compete and try to improve.  Certainly this finish is something that they can individually build on as they head into summer competition and get ready for the fall.”

Michael Garretson and Tyler Klava each recorded a 77 on the final day as well, as the Jaguars finished fifth out of 11 teams in the field with a three-day score of 901.  No. 29 North Texas claimed the championship — and the automatic berth in an NCAA Regional that comes with it — after posting a 293 total in the last round for a 9-over-par 873 team score, and the Mean Green’s Ty Spinella took medalist honors with a 2-under-par 214 54-hole total as he was the lone individual among the 55 competing to end the event below par.

Klava, who led the team in scoring average entering the tournament, was announced as an all-Sun Belt Conference selection following the conclusion of play.  It’s the 22nd consecutive year that at least one Jag has been named all-league.

Hulse began the last round at the par-72, 7,371-yard The Shoals Fighting Joe Course with bogeys on two of his first six holes, but he made the turn at even par following a three on the 434-yard eighth to go along with a two at No. 9, which was a 195-yard hole.  He added birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 for his eighth score of par or lower this season — a total that ranks second on the team — as he would end up tied for 16th place with a three-round total of 225.

For the second time in as many days, it was Jones who led USA in birdies after he posted five over the last 18 holes.  He began the round with birdies at the first and second holes, and later posted two more back-to-back on Nos. 16 and 17 as well.  Jones also had a three at the 403-yard 14th, giving the freshman at least one round of par or better in five of six tournaments he competed at this spring.  With the performance in the final round, he moved up 13 spots into a tie for 31st place.

Leberte matched Jones with five birdies in his round, including at the 10th and 12th holes to get back to even par for the day.  His last was at No. 17 — four of five Jags birdied the 537-yard hole on the final day of the tournament — while he also had threes at the fourth and eighth on the front side of the course to tie for 20th place overall one shot behind Hulse; it was his first top-20 effort of the year.

Garretson and Klava tied for 20th and 29th place overall, respectively, after collecting a birdie on each side of the course in the final round.  Both accomplished the feat on the 379-yard fourth, with the former posting another three at No. 16 — a 437-yard hole — and the latter a birdie at the 17th.

“It’s been an interesting year, we have played a very young team a majority of the season,” Hannan commented.  “That decision was made to hopefully benefit this program down the road.  Having all five of these guys come back is exciting, and if they continue to improve individually we will be looking forward to more positive results.”

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—

Sun Belt Conference Championships
The Shoals Fighting Joe Course, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Par 72, 7,371 yards
Team Scores: 1) North Texas 298-282-293—873 (+9); 2) Middle Tennessee 298-289-294—881; 3) Louisiana-Lafayette 311-288-293—892; 4) UALR 308-293-297—898; 5) South Alabama 306-300-295—901; 6) Troy 317-294-299—910; 7) Denver 321-291-302—914; 8) Florida Atlantic 316-300-310—926; 9) Louisiana-Monroe 327-297-304—928; 10) Western Kentucky 321-314-294—929; 11) Arkansas State 314-303-313—930.

Individual Leaders: 1) Ty Spinella, NT 71-72-71—214 (-2); 2) Hunter Green, MT 77-70-70—217; 3) Brandt Garon, ULL 79-70-69—218; T4) Chun-Ji Kim, DU 75-69-75—219; T4) Brett Patterson, MT 74-71-74—219; T6) Colby Benton, UALR 77-71-72—220; T6) Tolver Dozier, Troy 76-70-74—220; T6) Jason Roets, NT 76-71-73—220; T9) three individuals at 221.

South Alabama Scores: T16) Lane Hulse 77-76-72—225 (+9); T20) Michael Garretson 75-74-77—226; T20) McLain Leberte 78-74-74—220; T29) Tyler Klava 76-78-77—231; T31) Parker Jones 84-76-72—232.