KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Peter Staalbo fired a career-best 6-under-par 66 in the final round of The Invitational at the Ocean Course on Tuesday as he jumped nearly 50 spots in the individual standings to record his third top-10 finish since the start of the spring semester.
His efforts helped the University of South Alabama men's golf team post a 1-over-par 289 team total on the last day of the tournament — one shy of equaling the best group score of the day — and end the event 11th out of 16 schools with an 874 figure over 54 holes.
Staalbo's score was the best of the day by a three-stroke margin over a group that included teammate Sylas Elliott, who concluded his first-ever NCAA Division I event with a 3-under-par 69. Rasmus Karlsson posted a score of 76 in the final round, with Yannick Schütz contributing a 78 and Drew Cooke shooting 85 to wrap up the Jags' first tournament of the season.
"We had the two low rounds of the day from Peter and Sylas, for that to happen made it a pretty good day," Jaguar head coach Alex Hamilton said. "Drew played very well yesterday and carried the team, and Sylas and Peter played real well today, Yannick had some good rounds for us and Rasmus counted every score. I was very pleased with the progress we made."
Staalbo teed of Tuesday on the 10th hole of the par-72, 7,115-yard Kiawah Island Resort Ocean Course, carding the first of six birdies at the 11th, which was playing at 562 yards. He was still 1-under nine holes later after recording nine consecutive pars, then closed out play with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch. The spurt began with a three at the 390-yard No. 3, and was followed by three birdies in a row starting at the fifth hole. Following another par, Staalbo carded a three on No. 9 — playing at 465 yards — to best his previous low round by a stroke.
In finishing the tournament with a 3-under-par 213 54-hole score, he was 3 under on par-four holes as well as fifth with 39 pars.
Elliott had a 221 total after 54 holes, tying for 47th individually after starting the day in a tie for 76th place among the field of 92 competitors. The junior-college transfer started on No. 11 and opened the final round with three birdies in a row, adding a four at the seventh and a three at the ninth for a five-shot improvement over the better of his two scores on the first day of play. Elliott was tied for seventh in scoring on the course's par fives with a 5-under-par total, and he also ended up among the tournament leaders after recording 11 birdies.
"Peter putted really well today, explained Hamilton. "He fought very hard, and played pretty well in every aspect of the game. Today was, by far, the hardest day of the tournament, to shoot a 66 was impressive. And Sylas played well, especially today."
Schütz had birdies on the 11th — all but one Jaguar posted a four on the par-five hole on the day — and at No. 1 in the final round, finishing in a tie for 56th in the individual standings with a two-day 224 score. He was two strokes in front of Cooke, who tied for 63rd after beginning the event with rounds of 71 and 70 while Karlsson matched his low score from Monday with a 76 and finished tied for 75th individually. Cooke, who led the team with 12 birdies over 54 holes, was 3 under through five holes on the last day with threes on the ninth and 13th holes around a four at No. 11.
"Today was a tough day, I think some of the guys got worn down with this being their first college tournament," Hamilton said. "It's definitely a mental and physical grind. But they will learn from that and know how to prepare and handle things a little bit better.
"All in all, we would've like to have finished a little bit higher in the team standings, but I saw a lot of positives. I was proud of the way the guys handled everything, I'm looking forward to seeing them learn from today."
Middle Tennessee held a three-shot lead after play on the tournament's opening day, going on to claim the title by six strokes with an 850 three-round team score. Mississippi and Maryland were second and third with totals of 856 and 859, respectively, while Georgia Southern placed fourth one shot behind the Terrapins and three in front of both host Charleston and Augusta.
Augusta's Jake Marriott was the medalist with a 9-under-par 207 54-hole total, with Alfredo Ruiz of Coastal Carolina one shot behind and Georgia State's Alexander Herrmann finishing third at 209.
The Jags will have less than a week off before returning to action, with the next event on the schedule — the Bridgestone Match Play — slated to begin on Monday in Braselton, Ga.
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).
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The Invitational at the Ocean Course
Kiawah Island Resort Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, S.C.
Par 72, 7,115 yards
Team Scores: 1) Middle Tennessee 281-275-294—850 (-14); 2) Mississippi 279-282-295—856; 3) Maryland 290-281-288—859; 4) Georgia Southern 289-282-289—860; T5) Augusta 284-277-302—863; T5) Charleston 280-284-299—863; 7) Georgia State 270-289-305—864; 8) Troy 286-293-288—867; T9) West Virginia 284-285-304—873; T9) Coastal Carolina 287-288-298—873; 11) South Alabama 293-292-289—874; 12) Cincinnati 295-290-290—875; 13) Charleston Southern 290-298-290—878; 14) Winthrop 291-288-304—883; 15) Virginia Commonwealth 298-284-313—895; 16) Francis Marion 300-300-301—901.
Individual Leaders: 1) Jake Marriott, Aug 66-68-73—207 (-9); 2) Alfredo Ruiz, CCU 70-69-69—208; 3) Alexander Herrmann, GSU 66-68-75—209; T4) Austin Squires, UC 73-68-69—210; T4) Braden Thornberry, Miss 68-72-70—210; 6) Archer Price, GS 71-71-69—211; 7) James Beckner, MT 71-69-72—212; T8) Peter Staalbo, USA 76-71-66—213; T8) Ben Wolcott, Miss 7070-73—213; T8) Ilari Saulo, MT 71-69-73—213.
South Alabama Scores: T8) Peter Staalbo 76-71-66—213 (-3); T47) Sylas Elliott 74-78-69—221; T56) Yannick Schütz 72-74-78—224; T63) Drew Cooke 71-70-85—226; T75) Rasmus Karlsson 76-77-76—229.
