ALPHARETTA (April 11, 2007) -- The 19th-ranked Georgia State men's golf team finished tied for fourth-place at the U.S. Collegiate Championship after a final round total of 296 and a tournament total of 896. State finished tied for fourth with 14th-ranked Georgia Tech and finished in front of eight top 20 teams including third-ranked Alabama, fourth-ranked Southern California, and seventh-ranked Oklahoma State among others.

Second-ranked Georgia took home the title with a three-round total of 884.

“We did not get off to a good start but we played a solid back nine,” said head coach Matt Clark. “We played final hole at 4-under-par as team, which was a great way to finish this tournament.”

Junior Joel Sjoholm recorded his best finish of the season when he tied for third-place at 3-over-par after a final round of 73. Sjoholm finished four shots behind medalist Webb Simpson from Wake Forest, who finished at 1-under for the tournament.  

“It felt good to prove to myself that I can compete against the top golfers in the country,” Sjoholm said.

“I am really proud of the way Joel played this week,” Clark said. “He had a chance to win it on several occasions and I am real excited to see him play that way against some of the best players.”

Senior Ben Taylor ended tied for 16th-place at 8-over-par. Taylor shot a final round of 78. Freshman Tom Sherreard recorded his best round of the tournament with a 73 and finished tied for 20th-place. Sophomore Mark Haastrup rebounded from his second round 81 to fire a final round of 72 and finished tied for 48th-place. Senior Derek Oakey finished tied for 68th-place with a final round of 78.

The defending Colonial Athletic Assoication Panthers will tee off again at the CAA Championships on April 20-22 in Hot Springs, Va. 

“Anytime you play against best teams in country and have success it will encourage you,” Clark said. “Homestead will be a tough golf course where par is a good score. Since we just played a golf course where par is good score, it will only help us in course preparation.”

“We are competing on a high level now right now,” Sjoholm said. “The conference tournament is going to be a tough, as it always is. We are just going to have to bring our A-game.”

U.S. Collegiate Championship
Golf Club of Georgia
7,071 yards, Par 72

Individual Scores: