NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Rasmus Karlsson matched the best score of his career while Yannick Schütz carded seven birdies to lead the University of South Alabama men's golf team in the final round of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish Classic on Monday.

Karlsson posted a 5-under-par 66, Schütz finished with a 2-under-par 69, and both Jordan Plunkett and Kyle Robinson were even par over the last 18 holes to help the Jaguars close out play with a 7-under-par 277 total, the team's best round of the fall campaign.  South ended the event with a 3-over-par 855 group score to place 12th in the final team standings, while Plunkett was tied for 26th individually with a 2-under-par 211 54-hole total.

Illinois recorded a 14-under-par team score of 270 in the final round, winning the championship with a tournament-record 44-under-par 808 total.  Both runner-up Georgia Southern (818) and third-place finisher North Carolina (821) posted scores that broke the previous event mark as well.  The Eagles' Steven Fisk also broke the previous 54-hole individual record after taking medalist honors with a 15-under-par 198 score over two days.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Fighting Irish Classic (Notre Dame)
Date: 10/8
Course: Warren Golf Course (par 71, 7,020 yds)
Live scoring: https://www.birdiefire.com/tournament/50201/

TEAM SCORES
1) Illinois 270-268-70—808 (-44); 2) Georgia Southern 266-277-275—818; 3) North Carolina 270-280-271—821; 4) Iowa 277-279-277—833; 5) Notre Dame 279-277-282—838; T6) Wisconsin 283-277-281—841; T6) Iowa State 278-275-288—841; 8) Michigan 293-285-267—845; 9) Michigan State 280-287-382—850; T10) Northern Illinois 289-280-282—851; T10) Southern Illinois 289-279-283—851; 12) South Alabama 296-282-277—855; 13) Miami (Ohio) 286-293-280—859; 14) Nebraska 287-292-292—871; 15) Toledo 295-286-292—873.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Steven Fisk, GS 64-69-65—198 (-15); 2) Ryan Gerard, UNC 65-73-61—199; 3) John Felitto*, UND 64-66-70—200; T4) Giovanni Tadiotto, Ill 68-67-66—201; T4) Bryan Baumgarten, Ill 67-65-69—201; 6) Michael Feagles, Ill 68-68-66—202; T7) Lachlan Barker, ISU 65-68-70—203; T7) Ryan Burnett, UNC 68-67-68—203; T7) Alex Schaake, Iowa 69-67-67—203; T10) three individuals with 204.
*denotes competed as an individual

SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T26) Jordan Plunkett 71-69-71—211 (-2); T50) Rasmus Karlsson 75-75-66—216; T53) Yannick Schütz 74-74-69—217; T65) Jacob Hatter 76-69-75—220; T68) Kyle Robinson 80-70-71—221.

TEE SHOTS
-The field for the event this week included 15 teams and 84 individuals.
-It's the first time South has shot below par multiple times at a tournament since doing so in all three rounds of the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate Feb. 12-13 last season.
-It also marks the third time in eight rounds this fall that the Jaguars have broken par as a group.
-Plunkett — who recorded his team-best fifth round at or under par — concluded play with his highest individual finish thus far this season.
-Karlsson posted six birdies — three on each side of the course — to equal his career-low 18-hole score set on the final day of last year's Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate.
-It was also the first time this season he has shot at or below par, as his previous low round of the year was a 74.
-Schütz led the Jags with seven birdies on the final day of play at the tournament, with five of those coming on the front side of the course after making the turn 1 over.
-It was the third occasion this season that the junior has shot par or better as he equaled his previous low 18-hole score of the fall first set on the final day of the Lone Star Invitational Sept. 11.
-Robinson closed out the event with his second straight round at or below par as he birdied three of his first eight holes to make the turn 3 under.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On his assessment of the team's performance in the final round: "I was happy with our play today, we had four rounds at par or better and generally speaking everybody was in the game.  It certainly is something we can build on moving forward."
On Rasmus Karlsson: "After his play yesterday, Rasmus came out today very focused and ready to go.  He got off to a solid start, he was driving the ball well to give himself some looks and opportunities throughout the day, then he got hot coming in and birdied his last three holes.  He played a very solid round of golf and was in complete control all day."
On being led in the tournament by a freshman: "Jordan had a very solid tournament.  It's important for us to get help from everybody, and he carried the load for us this week.  We have a lot of talent on this team, and for us to compete with the teams we are playing against we need to have everybody show up every time the tee goes in the ground."

Up next: The final event on the fall schedule — the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational — will get underway on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 27.

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

Join the Birdie Club — the men's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Birdie Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/birdieclub.

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