MOBILE, Ala. (2/21/12) - The Arkansas State men's golf team wrapped up play in the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate on Tuesday, posting a final-round 296 on the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course to finish the three-round tournament in 14th place with a combined 905.
The Red Wolves improved their score each round, turning in their best performance of the tournament on Tuesday. A-State's 296 was 15 strokes under its first-round total of 311 and 2-under its second-round score. The Red Wolves finished the first two rounds yesterday in 15th place, but were able to climb one place in the final standings.
Three of ASU's five competing players posted their lowest round of the tournament on Tuesday and another tied his lowest. Freshman Eli Mattioli tied senior Chris Pledger for the second best finish on the team, but recorded a 72 for the final 18 holes that marked the best round single-round score of the tournament by an ASU player.
"I was glad to see us play better today, and I thought we started to knock some of the rust off," said ASU head coach Steve Johnson at the conclusion of the team's first spring tournament. "We obviously didn't play as well as we would have liked to start the tournament, but I thought the guys buckled down and made the best of it. I was really proud in that regard, but we've got a lot to work on here early in the spring."
Mattioli and Pledger both finished with a combined 226 to tie for 54th place, while senior Cory Williamson ended the tournament tied for 45th place with a 224 to lead the Red Wolves. Williamson entered the final round tied for 57th place, but carded a 73 today to jump 12 places in the final standings.
"I thought Eli Mattioli did an outstanding job in his first collegiate event," said Johnson. "Nobody came out of the gate well in the first round, but I thought he played very solid the rest of the way."
Also competing for ASU, Wessel Zwieggers finished tied for 64th place with a 229 and Christian Pitz was 74th with a 235.
The 15-team field was led by Middle Tennessee, which claimed the tournament championship with an 858. Memphis finished second with an 859 and Wake Forest third with an 865.
Senior Sawyer Radler competed in the South Alabama Individual Tournament on the Magnolia Grove Falls Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday as well. Radler shot a first-round 78 on Monday and a 73 today to end the separate tournament with a combined 151, which placed him tied for 10th among 33 participating players.
A-State returns to action March 4-7 at the USF Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
ARKANSAS STATE RESULTS (MOBILE BAY INTERCOLLEGIATE)
Place, Name (RD 1-RD 2-RD 3--TOTAL)
15, Arkansas State (311-298-296--905)
T45, Cory Williamson (77-74-73--224)
T54, Chris Pledger (75-74-77--226)
T54, Eli Mattioli (80-74-72--226)
T64, Wessel Zwiegers (79-76-74--229)
74, Christian Pitz (81-77-77--235)
(USA INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT)
T10, Sawyer Radler (78-73--151)
