Moc golf teams continue strong season
Matthew Cote
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Sports
Men's Team
The Florida Southern College men's golf team fought for a share of second place in the Ron Smith Invitational on March 2. They shot a combined team score of 284, four strokes under par, on the final day to tie Marquette for second place.
The tournament featured 16 Division I schools and two Division II schools. The Mocs have played in the mostly Division I Ron Smith/USF Invitational for nine years and have finished second three times in the last five years. They also won the tournament in 2000.
When asked why his team was so successful against a mostly D-1 field, Coach Douglas Gordin replied, "I recruited players who could have gone to a D-1 school but chose to come here and compete for a NCAA title. That is one of my recruiting pitches, that they could go to a D-1 school and never play for a NCAA title or come here and play for one every year. Most of the players we have were recruited by D-1 schools so they really are D-1 caliber players."
"In the mid-1980's, the school looked at moving all of its sports into Division I, but decided to stay Division II. FSC chose to stay D-2, which I think is a wise decision" said Gordin.
One of the newest recruits, freshman Jude Eustaquio, led the way on the final day with a three under par 69. Eustaquio has been a solid acquisition for the Mocs since he transferred from the University of Florida. Senior Brian Richey and sophomore Matt Stauch both shot a one under 71, while sophomore Danny Evelyn and senior Blake Holbrook shot a one over 73.
Eustaquio and Stauch both had five birdies on the final day, allowing them to catch Marquette and force a tie. The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders finished first with a team score of 858, 14 strokes ahead of Marquette and FSC. The only other Division II competitor, Columbus State, finished ninth overall with a score of 888.
The Mocs' next tournament is the Georgia College Invitational in Atlanta on May 24-25.
Lady Mocs
The Florida Southern College women's golf team finished first at the Lady Moc Classic on Feb. 24-26 and finished third in the Rollins Invitational on March 10-11. The Mocs were led by a new face, Swedish freshman Marianne Andersson.
Andersson received medalist honors at the Lady Moc Classic for shooting the lowest individual score and helped the Mocs finish seven strokes ahead of second place Rollins. The Mocs' three day score of 893 set a tournament record for the lowest score, which was previously set in 2005 by Rollins.
Junior Heather Burgner finished tied for second, which is her fourth top five finish this season.
The tournament featured six of the top ten teams in the nation. No. 1 FSC and No. 2 Rollins finished first and second respectively. No. 8 Nova Southeastern finished third, No. 6 Barry finished fourth, No. 7 Lynn finished fifth and No. 10 West Florida finished in sixth place.
The Lady Mocs were unable to make it three straight wins to start the spring. They dropped their third tournament, the Rollins Invitational, finishing third. Rollins won the tournament for the fourth straight year. Rollins finished with a final score of 901, which was seven strokes better than the Lady Mocs' 908.
The Lady Mocs placed three golfers in the top six spots for individual scores however. Burgner and Kim Ulander tied for fourth with a 226, and Andersson finished tied for sixth with a 227.
"We are playing good right now and finished third without Lindsey Bergeon, she is resting an injury now and hopes to be back for our next event," said Coach Robbie Davis, "Our ranking slipped to third but I do not mind, I would rather be chasing than be the chaser."
Andersson was awarded the Sunshine State Conference Woman's Golfer of the Week award after the Lady Moc Classic. She shot a three round score of 222 and finished first in a talented field.
"It feels great to be able to contribute to a team as good as ours. It is a goal for the team this year to participate in nationals and win and my goal is to be a part of that team, which I now have proven to myself that I can be. The player of the week award is just proof to myself that I have achieved some of my goals this semester," said Andersson.
FSC next plays March 24-25 in the Nova Southeastern Invitational in Fort Lauderdale.
The Florida Southern College men's golf team fought for a share of second place in the Ron Smith Invitational on March 2. They shot a combined team score of 284, four strokes under par, on the final day to tie Marquette for second place.
The tournament featured 16 Division I schools and two Division II schools. The Mocs have played in the mostly Division I Ron Smith/USF Invitational for nine years and have finished second three times in the last five years. They also won the tournament in 2000.
When asked why his team was so successful against a mostly D-1 field, Coach Douglas Gordin replied, "I recruited players who could have gone to a D-1 school but chose to come here and compete for a NCAA title. That is one of my recruiting pitches, that they could go to a D-1 school and never play for a NCAA title or come here and play for one every year. Most of the players we have were recruited by D-1 schools so they really are D-1 caliber players."
"In the mid-1980's, the school looked at moving all of its sports into Division I, but decided to stay Division II. FSC chose to stay D-2, which I think is a wise decision" said Gordin.
One of the newest recruits, freshman Jude Eustaquio, led the way on the final day with a three under par 69. Eustaquio has been a solid acquisition for the Mocs since he transferred from the University of Florida. Senior Brian Richey and sophomore Matt Stauch both shot a one under 71, while sophomore Danny Evelyn and senior Blake Holbrook shot a one over 73.
Eustaquio and Stauch both had five birdies on the final day, allowing them to catch Marquette and force a tie. The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders finished first with a team score of 858, 14 strokes ahead of Marquette and FSC. The only other Division II competitor, Columbus State, finished ninth overall with a score of 888.
The Mocs' next tournament is the Georgia College Invitational in Atlanta on May 24-25.
Lady Mocs
The Florida Southern College women's golf team finished first at the Lady Moc Classic on Feb. 24-26 and finished third in the Rollins Invitational on March 10-11. The Mocs were led by a new face, Swedish freshman Marianne Andersson.
Andersson received medalist honors at the Lady Moc Classic for shooting the lowest individual score and helped the Mocs finish seven strokes ahead of second place Rollins. The Mocs' three day score of 893 set a tournament record for the lowest score, which was previously set in 2005 by Rollins.
Junior Heather Burgner finished tied for second, which is her fourth top five finish this season.
The tournament featured six of the top ten teams in the nation. No. 1 FSC and No. 2 Rollins finished first and second respectively. No. 8 Nova Southeastern finished third, No. 6 Barry finished fourth, No. 7 Lynn finished fifth and No. 10 West Florida finished in sixth place.
The Lady Mocs were unable to make it three straight wins to start the spring. They dropped their third tournament, the Rollins Invitational, finishing third. Rollins won the tournament for the fourth straight year. Rollins finished with a final score of 901, which was seven strokes better than the Lady Mocs' 908.
The Lady Mocs placed three golfers in the top six spots for individual scores however. Burgner and Kim Ulander tied for fourth with a 226, and Andersson finished tied for sixth with a 227.
"We are playing good right now and finished third without Lindsey Bergeon, she is resting an injury now and hopes to be back for our next event," said Coach Robbie Davis, "Our ranking slipped to third but I do not mind, I would rather be chasing than be the chaser."
Andersson was awarded the Sunshine State Conference Woman's Golfer of the Week award after the Lady Moc Classic. She shot a three round score of 222 and finished first in a talented field.
"It feels great to be able to contribute to a team as good as ours. It is a goal for the team this year to participate in nationals and win and my goal is to be a part of that team, which I now have proven to myself that I can be. The player of the week award is just proof to myself that I have achieved some of my goals this semester," said Andersson.
FSC next plays March 24-25 in the Nova Southeastern Invitational in Fort Lauderdale.
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