March 21, 2010
Course Statistics
Final Individual Statistics
Final Team Statistics
Complete Statistics
Combined Team Results
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Auburn men's golf team (291-862) fought back from a seven-stroke deficit Sunday to win the E-Z-Go Invitational, overtaking No. 28 North Florida (299-863) in the final nine holes of play.
The event, known for consistantly providing stiff competition, hosted seven programs ranked in the top-30 and seven SEC schools.
"The guys stuck with what they've been doing all spring," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "Down the stretch it was a lot of fun more than anything. Days like today are what you practice for. To see whether you will succeed or not in those moments are what the game is all about."
The win marks the first for the Tigers at the event, held at the par-72 Forest Heights Golf Club in Statesboro, Ga. The victory is also the second for Auburn this week after the Tigers' dominating performance in Monday's Tiger Shootout.
Sophomore Kyle Kopsick (72-216) led the Tigers in scoring to tie for sixth place. Sophomore Will McCurdy (72-215) recorded his fourth consecutive top-10 finish, shooting even par to tie for 10th.
"It was good to win," said Kopsick. "This was the first time we were in a position to win from the start of a tournament in a long time. This will give us some good confidence for the events coming up.
"It was a little tougher out there today. The course played a couple shots harder than the past couple of days plus the pins were tougher."
Senior Cole Moreland (75-217) recorded his fourth straight top-15 followed by sophomores John Stembridge (72-220) tied for 32nd and David Zickler (75-225) tied for 56th. Auburn entered the day in second place at 5-under, trailing only North Florida who had jumped to 12-under after the opening 36 holes. The two teams teed off the front nine at 9:30 a.m., just as the rain began to fall.
Auburn held at even par through the opening eight holes of the day as the North Florida lead slipped to just four strokes.
No. 9 proved costly to the Tigers all tournament and Sunday was no exception. As a team, Auburn shot a combined 5-over through 15 attempts on No. 9. A pair of bogies on the hole forced the Tigers to make the turn at 4-under.
The Ospreys would make the turn at 10-under compliments of a pair of birdies from Kevin Aylwin on 7 and 9.
North Florida held a slim lead over the Tigers heading into the final three holes of play but were unable to stop the Auburn comeback. The Tigers shot even par for holes 16, 17 and 18 as the Ospreys gave up six late strokes and slipped out of the lead.
With teammates and family gathered around the 18th green, Kopsick left his approach roughly 55 feet from the pin. Needing a two-put to clinch the win, the Chicago native powered his put uphill where the ball rested within a foot of the cup. He would tap in for par and seal the victory.
McCurdy hit 34-of-36 greens over the final 36-holes and led the team in par-3 (2.92) and par-5 (4.75) scoring. Kopsick would lead the team in birdies (9) while Zickler tied for third, overall, with 42 pars.
No. 20 Virginia (292-865) placed third followed by No. 24 Alabama (288-868), No. 26 Tennessee (281-871), Ole Miss (294-871), NC State (297-872), No. 14 Florida (284-875), No. 27 LSU (297-877), No. 11 South Carolina (292-878), Vanderbilt (299-881), Georgia Southern (302-883), North Carolina (300-888), Kentucky (301-889) and Louisville (302-898).
Ole Miss's Jonathan Randolph (72-211) defeated Alabama's Hunter Hamrick (70-211) and North Florida's Jordan Gibb (71-211) in a one-hole playoff.
The Tigers return to action March 28-30 at the Hootie at Bull's Bay. For complete E-Z-Go Invitational results and information, please access www.GolfStat.com.