SANDESTIN, Fla. – Playing in what could well be their last round as members of the program, University of South Alabama seniors Tyler Klava and Michael Garretson both shot below par Tuesday on the final day of the Sun Belt Conference Men's Golf Championship.

Each had a 1-under-par 70 over the last 18 holes, leaving Klava in a tie for fifth with a three-round even-par 213 total and Garretson tied for eighth place individually two shots behind.

"It was very fitting for those two, who have done so much for the program; they have been integral parts of our success over the last four and five years, respectively," stated Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan.  "I'm happy for them.  They're both fine young men and good student-athletes who will go on to have successful careers in whatever field they choose.  They will be Jaguars for life."

Klava posted birdies on two of the first four holes at the par-71, 6,860-yard Sandestin Golf Resort Raven Course, carding a three on No. 1 and a two on the 193-yard fourth.  After making the turn 1 under, he recorded a four at No. 11, playing at 562 yards to break par for the second time at the event.

"It's a good feeling," Klava said of shooting below par in his last round.  "We worked hard for four years.  To play well at the conference championship and end under par, I couldn't think of a better way to go out.  I didn't do anything really great today, when I got in trouble I got up and down and made a couple of long putts — including a few key ones for par — that kept the round going.  With average ball striking, to shoot under par is a testament to the fact that your short game can bail you out."

Garretson's lone birdie on the front side of the course came at the 587-yard third hole.  But after making the turn at 2 over, he rebounded with a three at No. 10, then birdied the 15th — playing at 298 yards, he drove the green — and No. 17 to go 3-under-par over his final nine holes.  The 70 was his lowest score of the tournament.

"It was really nice.  I got off to a shaky start but did everything really well coming in," stated Garretson.  "I made a few birdies and didn't really hit any bad shots, so I wasn't in position to make any bogeys.  The back nine felt really good, I hit it awesome.  It could've have easily been six birdies if I had a hot putter today, but it felt really good to make a few of them coming in."

The duo would end up sharing the lead on the squad this season with 12 scores of par or lower, with Klava collecting four top-10 results — all coming in the spring — and Garretson second on the team one behind in the latter category.

Matt Sheehan posted a final-round 72, a five-stroke improvement over his scores from Monday's first two rounds, which included a team-best five birdies on the day.  The sophomore began the round with a three at the first, and got back to even at the turn by birdying Nos. 8 and 9.   He also sank a short putt on the 130-yard 12th hole and closed out the tourney with a three at No. 18, playing at 431 yards.  Jason Mendel birdied the 421-yard 14th en route to a 77 and Daniel Jansen shot 80 to conclude the tournament.

Mendel finished in a tie for 37th place overall with a 224 total over 54 holes, and Jansen and Sheehan were two strokes behind in a tie for 42nd place.

"When you tee off and on paper it's virtually impossible to catch Georgia Southern, you really have to play for some pride," Hannan commented.  "We wanted to send Tyler and Michael out the right way and have a good final round.  Yesterday was about the back nine for us, and if things had gone a little different we could've been in a different position today.  That's golf, sometimes it doesn't go the way you script it but I'm proud of the guys.  We'll keep on working to get ready to compete again next year."

Georgia Southern entered the final day with a 20-stroke advantage, and despite a 295 in the last round claimed the event — and an automatic berth to an NCAA Regional — with a 3-under-par 849 total.  Texas-Arlington was the runner-up, 16 shots in back of the Eagles but one ahead of Louisiana-Monroe.  Georgia State and Troy rounded out the top five, with the Jags one stroke behind the Trojans in sixth place.

GS's Kim Koivu, the leader after 36 holes, recorded an even-par 71 to claim medalist honors with a 6-under-par 207 score over three rounds.  Teammate Scott Wolfes was two shots behind in second place as just four of 55 competitors broke par at the end of the tournament.

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—

Sun Belt Conference Championship
Sandestin Golf Resort Raven Course, Sandestin, Fla.
Par 71, 6,860 yards
Team Scores: 1) Georgia Southern 279-275-295—849 (-3); 2) Texas-Arlington 294-286-285—865; 3) Louisiana-Monroe 288-294-284—866; 4) Georgia State 291-284-292—867; 5) Troy 290-284-295—869; 6) South Alabama 281-300-289—870; 7) Texas State 298-288-285—871; 8) Arkansas-Little Rock 297-283-296—876; 9) Louisiana-Lafayette 286-300-296—882; 10) Arkansas State 299-289-298—886; 11) Appalachian State 312-301-293—906.

Individual Leaders: 1) Kim Koivu, GS 69-67-71—207 (-6); 2) Scott Wolfes, GS 68-69-72—209; 3) Jared Bettcher, Troy 69-71-71—211; 4) Tyler Saunders, TXST 74-71-67—212; T5) Tyler Klava, USA 69-74-70—213; T5) Mason Seaborn, ULM 74-71-68—213; T5) Greg Smail, ULM 72-68-73—213; T8) Michael Garretson, USA 71-74-70—215; T8) Aaron Guanloa, UTA 74-69-72—215; T8) Justin Newby, TXST 74-70-71—215.

South Alabama Scores: T5) Tyler Klava 69-74-70—213 (E); T8) Michael Garretson 71-74-70—215; T37) Jason Mendel 70-77-77—224; T42) Daniel Jansen 71-75-80—226; T42) Matt Sheehan 77-77-72—226.