The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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Gopher Invitational
Men's Golf Finishes Sixth At Gopher Invitational
9/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – A double-eagle by freshman Lee Hodges on the 18th hole highlighted the final day of the Gopher Invitational in Independence, Minn. as the UAB men’s golf team moved up two spots to finish in sixth place. The Blazers shot a 294 (+10) in the third round.
“We really dug ourselves such a big hole after the first round that it was going to be difficult to finish really high,” head coach Alan Murray said. “We had a relatively inexperienced group of guys in terms of college golf. Sixth was not necessarily what we were hoping for, but at the end of the day it wasn’t a bad finish at all. I am pleased and proud of the boys and how they fought really hard.”
UAB finished with a three-round total of 893 (+41) in the tournament to take sixth out of the 15 teams. The final day saw little movement across the leaderboard, but the Blazers were able to climb two spots after shooting the fourth lowest team score in the third round.
“Hodges made a double-eagle on his last hole, holding a three-wood for 280 yards,” Murray commented. “That happens once in a lifetime so that was pretty surreal. He was our highest finisher tying for 12th place so that was a great performance to have from a freshman in his first event.”
Hodges tied for 12th place after scoring a 73 (+2) in the third round. He finished the tournament with a total of 220 (+7). Right behind Hodges was junior Martin Rohwer. Rohwer recorded a 74 (+3) in the final round and totaled 221 (+8) for the tournament to tie for 17th.
Juniors Ryan Davies and Will Cannon were solid on the final day, shooting a 73 (+2) and 74 (+3), respectively. Davies steadily improved over the three rounds, finishing with his best round on Monday for a total of 232 (+19). Cannon also had his best round of the tournament and finished with a 72-hole total of 238 (+25).
Sophomore Henry James did not count for the third round. Individually he finished 28th tallying a 226 (+13) for the tournament.
“The course was good, it was tough and very windy,” remarked Murray. “So that was challenging. Martin was really solid for us all weekend, like he usually is. Ryan and Will played good rounds in the third round to help us out. Henry just had a tough day today. It is encouraging signs for the future.”
UAB will be off this weekend before returning to action in the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio that runs Sept. 22-23.
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