MOBILE, Ala. – The Georgia State men's golf team shot a final-round 1-over 289 to finish fourth at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate on Tuesday at Magnolia Grove Crossing Golf Club. Junior Damon Stephenson and sophomore J.J. Grey tied for third at 3-under par to lead the Panthers.
Georgia State finished the tournament at 2-over par and just two-strokes out of second place. No. 27 Auburn won the tournament at 6-under, followed by No. 36 Kentucky in second at even par. No. 41 Memphis shot a final-round 5-under 283 to jump Georgia State, which is ranked No. 57, and finished third. Middle Tennessee rounded out the top-five finishing at 6-over.
The Panthers earned wins over No. 28 Wake Forest and Sun Belt foes South Alabama and Texas State in the 15-team field.
Stephenson shot a final-round 2-under par 70, making three birdies for his best finish of the year.
Grey made four birdies in his final-round to shoot a 1-under 71, but a double bogey on the par-5 16th hole derailed a chance to pick up his fourth career win.
“I am disappointed that we dropped two spots in the standings from where we started the day, but overall, extremely pleased with the start to the season,” head coach Joe Inman said. “As I have said, we did not get to practice a whole bunch before this tournament so to come away with 11 wins is a great way to start the spring.
“It was great to see the way Damon and J.J. play the way they did. We know that we have a really good starting five and if each performs the way that they can, it could be a great spring season for us.”
Senior Tyler Gruca shot a final-round even-par 72 to tie for 20th. Gruca made 16 pars, one birdie and one bogey in his final round.
Junior Davin White finished tied for 49th following a final-round 79 to finish the tournament at 9-over.
Freshman Nathan Mallonee rounded out the Panthers line-up with a final-round 76 to finish at 10-over.
Wake Forest's Clancy Waugh earned low medalist honors following his second 68 of the tournament to finish at 6-under par. Auburn's Niclas Carlsson finished second at 4-under par. Stephenson and Grey were joined in the tie for third at 3-under by Middle Tennessee's Payne Denman, Auburn's Will Long and Kentucky's Stephen Powers.
Georgia State also sent four individuals to Mobile, playing in a separate tournament to open the spring.
Senior Ross Mclister tied for 21st at 19-over following a final-round 79.
Senior Grant Cagle shot a second-straight 75 to tie for 22nd of 36 individuals competing on the second of two courses at Magnolia Grove Golf Club.
Senior Kevin Lee shot a final-round 77 to tie Cagle for 22nd at 20-over, with senior Victor Lavin shooting a final-round 79 to tie for 25th.
Georgia State will return to the course Feb. 24-25 at the Jones Sports Invitational hosted by Pepperdine in Somis, Calif.