OPELIKA, Ala. – Tyler Klava record a score of par or better for the second time in as many days Tuesday, equaling his best finish of the season while helping the University of South Alabama men's golf team to a fourth-place finish at Auburn's Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner

The redshirt senior carded an even-par 72 in the last of three rounds at the event, posting a 54-hole 3-under-par 213 total — his lowest of the season by four strokes — and a tie for ninth place individually.  It's the second time in three events this spring that Klava has recorded a top-10 finish, as he now has seven scores of par or below on the year.

Jason Mendel matched Klava with a 72, while Daniel Jansen shot a 73; that was the low 18-hole total for both at the tournament.  Matt Sheehan had a 75, giving the Jaguars a three-round 876 total and fourth-place finish in the field of 16 schools.

Ally Purdy, playing as an individual, also finished with a 75 — the redshirt freshman's lowest score of the event as well — while Michael Garretson closed out play with a 77.

"The guys battled hard today; the wind was blowing as hard as it has all week, so the course was difficult," Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan said.  "We got off to a slow start too, so to hang in there and shoot 4 over was good work by the group.  After last week's final round, obviously all the guys were disappointed not being able to take advantage of that opportunity.  Going into this week we wanted to try and stay focused for 54 holes — after starting off in the middle of the pack we shot one of the low rounds yesterday, then to finish up with another solid round today is certainly something you can build on.

"It's a testament to this team to bounce back the way they did, I'm very proud of them."

Klava posted threes on Nos. 2 and 6 at the par-72, 7,149-yard Grand National Lake Course — playing at 428 and 442 yards, respectively — but was still 1 over at the turn.  He proceeded to birdie both par-five holes on the back side of the course, the 12th and 14th, to finish the event among the top 10 in the field of 90 individuals with 14 over three days; he also ended up in the top 10 with a 3-under total on par fours.

"Tyler really hung in there during the first round.  When he didn't play that well he was able to score," stated Hannan.  "He made some adjustments and played the last 36 holes very well.  With the Sun Belt Conference Championships coming up, this is a good time for Tyler to start coming into his own."

Mendel shared low honors on the team for the second time in the tournament after carding his fifth round of par or better over the final 18 holes.  The redshirt freshman was 4-over par through the sixth, but he rebounded with three straight birdies to close out his front nine.  After making the turn, Mendel recorded a four on No. 12 and a three at the 334-yard 16th to finish with a 223 total, which was tied for 36th.
Sheehan ended up tied for 25th in the individual standings, and was second on the squad, with a 220 total.  In the final round, he opened with a birdie on No. 1 — playing at 380 yards — and was even par on the front side of the course.  Garretson, like Klava, birdied both par fives after making the turn, finishing 49th overall with a three-day score of 227, while Jansen tied for 50th one shot behind him; he was 2 under on the front nine after birdies on Nos. 2 and 7, as he improved his score each round in the event.

Purdy had birdies on the third hole with a two as well as at No. 12 after carding a four, tying for 69th place with a 232 54-hole total.

The host Tigers won the team title with a 25-under-par 839 score after a group total of 276 in the last round, finishing 22 strokes in front of Troy while Georgia State took third place at 873.  Four Auburn players ended up among the top six individually, with Michael Johnson earning medalist honors after recording an 8-under-par 208 total.

The Jags will be off until Friday, March 20, when play begins at the Schenkel Invitational hosted by Georgia Southern.

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—

Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner
Grand National Lake Course, Opelika, Ala.
Par 72, 7,149 yards
Team Scores: 1) Auburn 290-273-276—839 (-25); 2) Troy 296-277-294—867; 3) Georgia State 300-285-288—873; 4) South Alabama 301-283-292—876; T5) Kansas State 295-292-294—881; T5) Mississippi 294-302-285—881; T5) Virginia Commonwealth 296-295-290—881; 8) North Carolina-Greensboro 297-288-297—882; 9) Tulsa 295-296-294—885; 10) Santa Clara 303-291-298—892; 11) Mercer 309-298-289—896; 12) Chattanooga 304-299-296—899; 13) Memphis 305-296-303—904; 14) Akron 311-300-294—905; T15) Mississippi State 305-297-304—906; T15) Jacksonville State 306-298-302—906.

Individual Leaders: 1) Michael Johnson, Aub 72-66-70—208 (-8); 2) J.J. Grey, GSU 70-69-70—209; T3) Ben Schlottman, Aub 72-69-69—210; T3) Matt Gilchrest, Aub 72-68-70—210; T3) Will Long*, Aub 74-68-68—210; 6) Daniel Stringfellow, Aub 74-70-67—211; T7) Matt Green, KSU 72-69-71—212; T7) Jake Tucker, Troy, 69-70-73—212; T9) four individuals with 213.

South Alabama Scores: T9) Tyler Klava 74-67-72—213 (-3); T25) Matt Sheehan 76-69-75—220; T36) Jason Mendel 74-77-72—223; 49) Michael Garretson 77-73-77—227; T50) Daniel Jansen 81-74-73—228; T69) Ally Purdy* 76-81-75—232.
*competing as an individual