The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Hummingbird Invitational
No. 19 Men's Golf Finishes Second At Hummingbird
11/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 1, 2011
CASHIER, N.C. - Freshman golfer Paul Dunne closed play in second overall to lead the No. 19 UAB men's golf team to a second-place finish at the 36-hole Hummingbird Intercollegiate here Tuesday. The Blazers closed play with a one-under par 567 (287-280) in the 17-team field, which was the eighth-lowest 36-hole team score in program history.
"I was pleased with how we played this week," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "We played good today and had a chance to win, but it just didn't happen. I am pleased with our team and very happy for Paul. He bogeyed the last two holes coming in, otherwise he probably would have won."
The tournament marked the final event of a truly successful fall campaign for the Blazers. In the five tournaments this season, UAB captured the Sam Hall Invitational, while also recording three second-place finishes and a fifth-place result. In all, the team finished with a record of 59-7 throughout the fall season.
"I am thrilled about the progress we made this fall," Kaufman said. "I have been pleased with team and we are looking forward to spring."
Dunne played the best golf in a tournament in his young career, as he closed the day with a five-under par 65 on the par 71, 6,767-yard Country Club of Sapphire Valley course. Following his first round even par 71, the Dublin, Ireland native finished the tournament with a 36-hole career low mark of 137, nine strokes better than his previous best mark of 146. He was two strokes behind individual medalist Kristopher Gray of Gardner-Webb.
Sophomore Sam Love also had a stellar performance, closing the event tied for ninth overall with an even par 142 (72-70). Meanwhile, junior Hunter Hawkins made it three UAB golfers who finished among the top 15, as the Fort Payne, Ala. native carded a one over par 142 (71-72).
Sophomore Thomas Sutton placed 63rd overall with a 152, while senior Jason Shufflebotham rounded out the team with a 153.
Appalachian State rallied from seventh-place tie with a tournament single-round record low of 273 to hold off the Blazers for the tournament crown. Gardner-Webb, which led after day one, finished third at 572, while Vanderbilt (574) and Francis Marion (581) rounded out the top five.
The Blazers will return to action until Feb. 11-12 when they compete at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.
