Franklin, Tenn. - Making his collegiate debut, Georgia State freshman Jonathan Grey won the Mason Rudolph Championship on Sunday hosted by Vanderbilt. The Panthers finished seventh in the season opening event with a final round 12-over 296.
From Kent, England, Grey finished with three birdies over his final five holes, including one at the par 5 18th hole to secure the victory. He finished the tournament at 7-under par for a one-stroke win over Vanderbilt's Hunter Stewart.
Grey's victory marks the second year in a row that a Panther freshman has won an event. Last year, now-sophomore Damon Stephenson won the Wexford Planation Intercollegiate in Hilton Head.
"I was extremely impressed by Jonathan's play this weekend," commented head coach Joe Inman. "He stumbled early in his round on Sunday, but never waivered and put together an incredible finish to truly earn the win.
"Overall, I am very pleased with my team this weekend. We have come a long way from this same tournament last year and if we continue to improve like we have been, I can see great things happening for this squad."
Sophomore Davin White finished tied for 32nd following a final round 76. White finished at 7-over par, including a second round 69.
Junior Tyler Gruca shot a third round 73 to move into a tie for 47th. After struggling on the front nine making four bogeys, he finished strong making three birdies over the final six holes to finish the event 10-over.
Junior Kevin Lee, making his debut with the Panthers, shot a final round 77 to finish at 11-over and tied for 52nd.
Junior Grant Cagle rounded out Georgia State's line-up by shooting 77 on Sunday and finishing at 17-over par for the 54-hole event.
Host Vanderbilt won the team title by seven strokes over Oklahoma. The Commodores were the only team to finish under par, shooting a 5-under 847. The Sooners finished second at 2-over, followed by Ole Miss in third at 6-over. Mississippi State placed at 9-over, followed by Georgia Southern in fifth at 12-over.
The Panthers finished the event 19-over and earned victories over the likes of College of Charleston, ETSU, Virginia, along with Sun Belt foes Middle Tennessee State and Arkansas State.
Stewart finished second to Grey at 6-under. Oklahoma's Michael Schoolcraft and Blake Morris from Ole Miss finished tied for third at 5-under, followed by Georgia Southern's Charlie Martin in fifth at 4-under.
Georgia State will return to action in two week's at the Brickyard Collegiate hosted by Mercer in Macon, Ga. The three-day event will feature some of the top teams in the southeast.
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