LAKELAND, FLA. - Senior Luke Hart fired a final round one-under-par 71 to finish tied for fifth in the individual standings, while Francis Marion University tied for eighth in the team standings at the Matlock Collegiate Classic, hosted by Florida Southern College.
FSC's Greg Koch shot a final-round 74 to hold off defending champion Ben Scott (of the University of Missouri) for medalist honors, and Florida Southern survived a late push from the University of West Florida and Lynn University to claim the team title for the second year in a row. The Moccasins won their own tournament for the sixth time in its 25-year history, and the fourth time since 2000, with a 54-hole score of 891. The Mocs began the final round with a 10-stroke lead over Lynn and an 11-stroke advantage over West Florida. However, both teams got within striking distance of the leader, with West Florida finishing just two strokes behind (893), and Lynn finishing three back (894).
Following the top three were the University of Missouri (898), Florida Gulf Coast University (906), Kansas State University (910), Rollins College (911), FMU and Old Dominion University (914), Barry University (915), University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Georgia College & State University (919), Valdosta State University and Delta State University (926), and Nova Southeastern University (928).
Francis Marion was fourth in the team standings after 18 holes and seventh after 36 holes.
Hart finished with a three-round total of 222 (72-79-71). Other Patriot finishers were sophomore Jacob Tveit tied for 35th (75-74-81=230), Aengus McAllister tied for 39th (74-82-75=231), Adam Hart tied for 65th (83-79-76=238), and Colin Floyd tied for 67th (77-81-83=241).
FMU's season record now stands at 35-29-2 as the Patriots are in their first year of transitioning to NCAA Division I affiliation.
Koch became just the third two-time individual champion at the Matlock, joining Florida State's Bobby Cochran (1993 and '94) and Florida Southern's Steve Sokol (2001 and 2002). He had previously won the tournament two years ago when he became the first freshman to ever do so. He placed fourth last year.
Francis Marion will play host to the inaugural Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate Tournament, Feb. 27-28 on Hilton Head Island.
FINAL RESULTS
Matlock Collegiate Classic
Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, FL
Dates: Feb. 13-14, 2006
Par: 72 Yardage: 7065
Fin. Top 20 Teams Scores
1 Florida Southern Col 288 300 303 891
2 West Florida, U. of 290 309 294 893
3 Lynn University 306 292 296 894
4 Missouri, U. of 299 306 293 898
5 Florida Gulf Coast U 297 309 300 906
6 Kansas State Univ. 305 307 298 910
7 Rollins College 307 302 302 911
8 Old Dominion Univ. 309 305 300 914
Francis Marion U. 298 313 303 914
10 Barry University 306 311 298 915
11 Tenn.-Chattanooga 302 315 302 919
Georgia Coll & St. U 306 308 305 919
13 Valdosta St. U. 309 314 303 926
Delta State U. 307 320 299 926
15 Nova Southeastern U. 309 313 306 928
No. Top 20 Players School Scores
1 Greg Koch Fl. South 69 72 74 215
2 Ben Scott Missouri 75 75 69 219
Robert Streb Kansas St. 72 75 72 219
4 Kyle Hammond FL GulfCoU 73 76 72 221
5 Luke Hart Fr. Marion 72 79 71 222
Will Grace W. Florida 70 78 74 222
7 Hoyt McGarity Lynn U. 77 75 71 223
Johan Cronvall GA Co&St.U 75 75 73 223
9 Gavin Dear Lynn U. 75 73 76 224
Keir McNicoll Lynn U. 78 69 77 224
Blake Holbrook Fl. South 69 76 79 224
Blake DeCesare ValdostaSt 72 76 76 224
Greg Gonzales Lynn U. 76 76 72 224
Jeff Long Old Domin. 77 72 75 224
15 Fredrik Lundberg W. Florida 70 79 76 225
Shawn Jasper Missouri 70 76 79 225
Nick Gillaspy Barry U. 76 74 75 225
Brett Blondell Fl. South 75 75 75 225
19 Chris Mabry Missouri 81 76 69 226
Drew Pierson FL GulfCoU 72 76 78 226
Hernan Borja Barry U. 73 81 72 226
Federico Damus W. Florida 78 76 72 226
