Columbus State 2nd; USC Aiken 5th at Loaded Bobcat Invitational

With three individuals in the top-10 to help them lead throughout, the University of West Florida men’s golf team won the 2008 Bobcat Invitational today (March 24) at the Golf Club at Cuscowilla. Columbus State finished in a tie for second while USC Aiken was fifth.

UWF shot a 291-288-295=874 on the par-70, 6,847-yard course, besting runners-up Sonoma State University and Columbus State University by 29 strokes. Rounding out the top-five were Valdosta State University in fourth and USC Aiken in fifth.

Columbus State fired a final round 302 on Tuesday. CSU's Kyle Albright recorded a hole-in-one on the par 3,16th hole. Albright used a seven-iron from 175 yards. The junior from Columbus, closed with a 74 to finish tied for 2th at 224 (80-70-74). Georgiou birdied his last two holes (#17, #18) to finish with a 74 and finished tied for fifth at 219 (73-72-74) for the tournament. van der Walt shot a final round 77, but still managed to finish in a tie for 14th at 225 (74-74-77). Hicks (77) and Cashbaugh (79) finished tied for 59th at 238.

Fresh of his first career top 10 last week at the Border Olympics, a Division I event in Laredo, Texas, USC Aiken's J.P. Solis carded round two and three scores of 73 and 76 to finish the 54 holes at eight-over-par 218, placing fourth to lead the Pacers. The freshman from Morelia, Mexico was the top Peach Belt Conference golfer.

Senior Jeff Goff signed for the low second round for USC Aiken, an even-par 70, while concluding with a final round 75 to tie for fifth, one stroke back of Solis at nine-over-par. It was the fourth top 10 in nine events for the Jackson, S.C. native including his second inside the top five.

Roberto Diaz rebounded from an opening round 77 to fire back-to-back 74’s and climb inside the top 20 for the 26th time in his career. The junior All-American tied for 14th at 15-over-par. Sophomore Kevin Grady recorded rounds of 81 and 82 on Tuesday to place 74th while freshman Frederik Schulte tied for 89th after final day tallies of 82 and 84.

1 West Florida, U. of 291 288 295 874 +34
2 Sonoma State U. 308 300 295 903 +63
Columbus State 308 293 302 903 +63
4 Valdosta St. U. 312 296 296 904 +64
5 South Carolina-Aiken 301 298 307 906 +66
6 North Alabama, U. of 310 297 305 912 +72
7 Florida Southern Col 310 309 294 913 +73
8 Clayton State Univ. 308 306 300 91 +74
9 Georgia Coll & St. U 309 310 299 918 +78
10 Carson-N12 Lander University 309 316 314 939 +99
13 Armstrong Atlantic 318 315 310 943 +103
14 Coker College 320 318 309 947 +107
15 Rollins College 318 321 311 950 +110
16 UNC Pembroke 317 317 318 952 +112
17 Pfeiffer University 327 327 330 984 +144