Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. - The Georgia State men's golf team opened the spring season on Monday in 14th place at the JU Invitational. Now in its third year, the tournament is played on one of the most famous golf courses in the world, the TPC at Sawgrass PLAYERS Stadium Course.
Senior Brent Paul and freshman Grant Cagle tied for 39th place to pace the Panthers on a day that saw most scores higher than normal. State opened with a round of 314, before shooting 310 in the afternoon.
Paul shot an opening round 80, before rebounding to shoot 74 on the par 72, 6,900 yard course in the afternoon. The senior made three birdies in each round, limiting his errors in the afternoon.
Cagle opened the 54-hole event with a 75, before shooting 79 in the afternoon. Cagle made three birdies in his opening round, including the challenging 18th hole that proved to be a nemesis of the Panthers on Monday.
"I thought we did some good things today," commented head coach Joe Inman. "But at the end of the day, we made too many big mistakes. There are not enough birdies on that course to make up for some of the large numbers that we put up. If we can limit those big mistakes, I think we can move up the standings on Tuesday."
Senior Alan Fowler finished tied for 45th after the opening day, shooting rounds of 76 and 79. After making three birdies in his opening round, Fowler only managed one in the afternoon.
Redshirt-junior Jared Cagle and freshman Tyler Gruca finished in a tie for 70th. Cagle struggled to an 86 in the morning, before rebounding and shooting 78 in the afternoon.
Gruca, who was one of the Panthers top golfers in the fall, opened with an 83, before shooting 81 in the afternoon.
No. 1 Florida will take a 17-stroke lead into Tuesday's final round. The Gators opened with a 2-under 286 and followed in the afternoon with a 5-under 283 to stand at 7-under par.
North Florida stands in second place at 10-over par with 18 holes to play, with No. 42 Liberty in third at 14-over par. Jacksonville State (16-over) and No. 21 Wake Forest (+21) round out the field.
Florida's Bank Vongvanij, the top ranked collegiate golfer in the country, has a three-stroke lead over No. 18 Evan Beck of Wake Forest. Vongvanij shot a pair of 69's to stand at 6-under.
Tied for third at 1-under par are Florida teammates Phillip Choi and Andres Echavarria, as well as North Florida's Kevin Phelan.
The course also hosts THE PLAYERS Championship, which brings the top golfers in the world to north Florida each May. The tournament, known as the fifth major of golf, features the famed Island Green at 17th. The par 3, 17th hole plays only 132 yards, but is surrounded by water and considered one of the toughest shots in golf.
The Panthers will play with Charleston Southern and host Jacksonville in Tuesday's final round. The groups will go off the No. 10 tee beginning at 11:33 a.m.
Live scoring will be available via GolfStat.com.
Team Results:
1. Florida: 286-283-569
2. North Florida: 300-286-586
3. Liberty: 300-290-590
4. Jacksonville State: 294-298-592
5. Wake Forest: 301-296-597
6. Mercer: 301-297-598
7. Clemson: 303-297-600
8. East Carolina: 305-298-603
9. Florida Gulf Coast: 304-304-608
10. ETSU: 312-304-615
11. Old Dominion: 311-306-617
11. Charleston Southern: 307-310-617
11. Jacksonville: 311-306-617
14. Georgia State: 314-310-624
15. James Madison: 313-321-634
Georgia State Results
T39. Brent Paul: 80-74-154
T39. Grant Cagle: 75-79-154
T45. Alan Fowler: 76-79-155
T70. Jared Cagle: 86-78-164
T70. Tyler Gruca: 83-81-164
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