The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Shoal Creek Intercollegiate hosted by Graeme McDowell
UAB Takes Third At Shoal Creek Invitational
9/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Lee Hodges shot a collegiate-best 68 (-4) in the final round to lead the UAB men's golf team to a third place finish in the 2014 Shoal Creek Invitational, hosted by Graeme McDowell on Tuesday at the Shoal Creek Country Club. The Blazers totaled an even-par 864 for the three-round tournament.
"Probably a little bit disappointed in the finish," said head coach Alan Murray. "I don't think ourselves or North Florida expected Alabama to come back to us a little bit. The fact that they did and we were not able to capitalize on it, being our home tournament, makes it a little bit disappointing but you can't fault the guys' effort. They tried their hardest, it just wasn't meant to be."
UAB closed out the event with a 290 (+2) in the final round, finishing five strokes behind tournament champion North Florida. North Florida surged to the top of the leaderboard with a 287 (-1) to win this year's tournament at 5-under 859. Alabama finished second carding a 54-hole total of 862 (-2).
Joey Petronio of North Florida took home the individual medalist honors with a tournament-record 205 (-11). Petronio tied the 18-hole record with a 6-under 66 in the final round.
Hodges was the top individual finisher for the Blazers for the third time this fall. He tied for third at 3-under par (73-72-68 = 213). He used five birdies in the final round with just one bogey and 12 pars to move up 12 spots into third.
"Really pleased with freshman Lee Hodges again," Murray stated. "He finished tied for third. What an impressive start he has had to his college career so that great."
Senior Paul Dunne also finished in the top-10 for UAB, tying for seventh place with a 215 (-1). Dunne sunk a birdie on the 18th hole to tally a 1-over 73 in the third round.
Junior Will Cannon and redshirt freshman Taylor McCullum each had their best individual finishes of the fall season. Cannon tied for 19th at 5-over (67-74-80=221) and McCullum's 74 (+2) in the third round moved him into a tie for 29th at 8-over (78-72-74=224).
Junior Martin Rohwer recorded 75 (+3) to finish one stroke ahead of McCullum in a tie for 25th (74-74-75=223).
Competing as individuals were freshman Taylor Eyster, sophomore Henry James and junior Ryan Davies. Eyster, who made his first appearance as a Blazer, recorded a 71 (-1) in the final round to finish 10-over. Davies shot a 76 (+4) to finish 20-over and James scored a 229 (+13) for the event.
"Everyone played well in spots we just haven't clicked as a team yet," Murray stated. "We have the Jerry Pate next week and that is an excellent field. The event is also here in Birmingham so hopefully we will have everyone firing on all cylinders for that one."
UAB will play for the third consecutive week as it remains in Alabama for the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate in nearby Vestavia Hills, Ala. The tournament will run Monday, Oct. 6 through Tuesday, Oct. 7.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For men's golf news, follow @UAB_MensGolf.
