DULUTH, Ga. – Due to heavy rains and a tornado watch, the final round of the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic hosted by Georgia State was cancelled Tuesday.

Thanks to its efforts Monday afternoon on the opening day of the event — recording the low round of the tournament with a 13-under-par 275 — the University of South Alabama men's golf team posted its first top-five finish of the fall.

The Jaguars carded a 36-hole 5-under-par 571 total to finish fifth among the 12 schools in the field, moving up six places after the first round.

Senior Michael Garretson led the Jags tying for fourth individually — his best finish of the fall — with a 4-under-par 140 two-round total that included a 68 over the second 18 holes.  In addition to posting his third and fourth scores at or below par on the season, it was his third top-20 result in four events.  Garretson paced the field of 75 individuals with 29 pars and was among the top 10 in scoring on par-three, par-four and par-five holes.

Daniel Jansen and Tyler Klava also had their best individual finishes of the year after tying for 11th and 19th place, respectively.  The former — who tied for second with 27 pars — fired USA's low round of the season with a 5-under-par 67 in the afternoon that featured three birdies and an eagle, recording his second top-20 performance and third round at or below par while ending with a 2-under-par 142 total.  The latter had his first top-20 result of the year after concluding the day with an even-par 144 that included a 2-under-par 70 over the second 18 holes as he tied for fifth statistically with 26 pars.

Ryan Pope also had a season-low 70 in the second round, finishing in a tie for 26th one shot behind Klava.  The sophomore was among the tournament leaders playing par-five holes at 3 under while also posting 24 pars.

Jason Mendel, playing as an individual, led the field shooting 3-under par on the par threes, tying for 43rd place with a 148 score, with Matt Sheehan third with a 1 under total on par-three holes; he tied for 60th at 153 after a second-round 74.

UNC Greensboro won the team title with a 14-under-par 562 group score, finishing three strokes ahead of Virginia Commonwealth.  The Spartans' Carter Jenkins was the individual medalist with an 8-under-par 136 36-hole total, winning by two shots over teammate Taylor Coalson and Liam Johnston of Chattanooga.

The Jaguars will conclude the fall season Oct. 25-26 at the Bridgestone Golf Collegiate hosted by UNCG.

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

—USA—

Autotrader.com Collegiate Classic
Berkeley Hills Country Club, Duluth, Ga.
Par 72, 6,694 yards
Team Scores: 1) UNC Greensboro 284-278—562 (-14); 2) Virginia Commonwealth 285-280—565; 3) Chattanooga 286-282—568; 4) Troy 286-283—569; 5) South Alabama 296-275—571; 6) Mercer 286-286—572; 7) Georgia State 292-283—575; 8) Davidson 295-281—576; 9) Richmond 293-290—583; 10) Charleston 295-290—585; 11) Francis Marion 294301—595; 12) Samford 312-299—611.

Individual Leaders: 1) Carter Jenkins, UNCG 69-67—136 (-8); T2) Liam Johnston, UTC 71-67—138; T2) Taylor Coalson, UNCG 71-67—138; T4) Michael Garretson, USA 72-68—140; T4) Phillips Brennan, Troy 71-69—140; T4) Emmanuel Kountakis, Mercer 72-68—140; T4) Jamie Clare, VCU 71-69—140; T4) Alexander Herrmann*, GSU 70-70—140; T9) Sean Smothers, Mercer 70-71—141; T9) Hanish Nagrani, VCU 70-71—141.

South Alabama Scores: T4) Michael Garretson 72-68—140 (-4); T11) Daniel Jansen 75-67—142; T19) Tyler Klava 74-70—144; T26) Ryan Pope 75-70—145; T43) Jason Mendel* 73-75—148; T60) Matt Sheehan 79-74—153.
*denotes competing as an individual