Panthers Win AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic

Men's Golf Mike Holmes/Sports Communications

Panthers Win AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic

DULUTH, GA. – Georgia State shot a final round 8-under 280, its lowest score since 2008, to claim a two-stroke victory at the third annual AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic at Berkeley Hills Country Club on Tuesday afternoon. South Florida's Chase Koepka, ranked No. 13 in the nation, claimed low medalist honors by two-strokes, finishing the 54-hole event at 10-under.

Georgia State finished its only home event of the year with a tournament-record 19-under total, which also tied for the seventh lowest three-round score in school history. The Panthers topped No. 28 South Florida which finished in second at 17-under, with Sun Belt foe South Alabama coming in third at 15-under. Chattanooga finished fourth at 9-under, with No. 37 Kentucky jumping to fifth at 8-under.

Panther senior Tyler Gruca tied for second with Chattanooga's Liam Johnson for second at 8-under par. Mercer's Trey Rule and Kentucky's Ben Stow finished tied for fourth at 7-under.

Kentucky shot the round of the day, an impressive 13-under 275, the second-lowest score in tournament history, nearly topping the record of 273 set by Chattanooga yesterday.

“What a great tournament,” head coach Joe Inman said. “I am so proud of our guys. They defended their home course and gave us a lot of confidence going into the last tournament of the fall. We have come a long way and all of the hard work paid off today.

“I would like to thank Berkeley Hills, the staff, members and all of the volunteers who made this year such a great success. We could not put on a first-class event without the help of so many first-class individuals.”

Gruca's second place finished tied a career-best set at the 2012 Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate. His 208 total also set a new career-low by seven strokes. He shot 65 on Monday, just one-stroke off the Berkeley Hills Country Club course record and two-strokes shy of a GSU record.

Freshman Nathan Mallonee also had a career-best tournament, finishing tied for sixth at 6-under. After opening the tournament with rounds of 69 and 72 on Monday, he shot another 69 on Tuesday.

Junior Damon Stephenson shot a final round 2-under 70 to finish at 4-under par and tied for 12th. Fellow junior Davin White shot a final-round 71 to tie for 25th at 1-over.

Sophomore Jonathan “J.J.” Grey finished tied for 43rd at 4-over. He finished the tournament on Tuesday with an even-par 72.

Four Panther seniors also competed in the event as individuals in the 84-man field. Victor Lavin shot a final-round 72 to finish alone in 20th at 1-under.

Ross Mclister tied for 43rd at 4-over following a final round 74, while Hamilton Grant Cagle shot a final round 2-under 70 to tie for 63rd at 8-over. Kevin Lee rounded out the Panthers line-up with a final-round 81 to tie for 78th at 15-over.

The field included three top 50 squads in the latest Golfweek rankings, along with 11 teams ranked in the top 100.

This marked the third-straight year that AutoTrader.com lent its name as the title sponsor.

Georgia State will return to action later this month at the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate at the Grandover Resort, Oct. 26-27.

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