Golf impresses at D-I tourney

During a normal tournament week for Bobcat golf, a second place finish elicits spatters of approval from players and coach. Eyes start to open when your team bests all but one opponent in a field full of Division I programs.

On Sept. 15-16, GCSU finished 54 holes at the Raines Development Group Intercollegiate with a team total of nine-under par, second only to the record setting 22-under-par turned in by champion Georgia Southern University.

The host course, The Country Club of South Carolina, is a proven tournament test with a past resume, including PGA Tour Qualifying and Buy.com (currently the Nationwide Tour) Tour events held on its grounds.

The field of 18 schools included two Division II programs: GCSU and the University of South Carolina at Aiken. Starting in an unusual format for 36 holes on Monday, each team played together in fivesomes.

Play started slowly for the Bobcats during a first round 293, placing them fourth overall, but 14 shots behind a blazing 279 from Georgia Southern.

Things started to roll for GCSU during the second round as the birdies flew around the group. At one point the squad reached a total of nine-under-par before an unexpected interruption of momentum.

Thunderstorms rolled into the area, suspending play for the day and leaving the Bobcats and several others with four holes left to wrap up the second round.

GCSU returned early on Tuesday to complete holes six through nine. Unfortunately, the soft conditions affected play, causing a slow finish to a promising round.

“The course was softer when play resumed for us in the sixth fairway,” Head Coach Jimmy Wilson said. “Shots that could have rolled up on the green stuck in the bank short, and the guys made par where they expected birdies.”

Wilson said a bit of frustration affected the finish, leaving the squad with a seven-under total of 281.

The teams were paired up in normal fashion for the third round, as GCSU stood second behind playing partner Georgia Southern. The guys got on a roll, according to junior Francisco Bide.

“When all five of us are playing well, there is no pressure,” Bide said. ” We are enjoying the competition and driving each other.”
The solid play continued as the Bobcats posted another 281 standing as the low final round. Every player shot under par, with 71 as the drop score.

The top finisher for GCSU was their fresh face, junior Pedro Lima, with rounds of 75-68-69 which tied him for fifth place at four-under.

“Pedro is a breath of fresh air because he is so appreciative of the chance to be on this team,” Wilson said. “His vibe is rubbing off on the others.”

In Lima’s native country of Brazil, the sport does not draw nearly as many players.

“I’m enjoying learning and competing,” Lima said. ” We are working as a team sharing all these times together.”

The rest of the team all finished inside the top 25, with junior Niclas Johansson one shot behind Lima in seventh, sophomores Joe Young and Billy Shida tied for twelfth at even-par and Bide posted another final round 70, placing him twenty-third for the week.

Even though the season has just begun, Bobcat golf continues shifting in the right direction, as the drive to improve is internal.
“You make yourself go lower because you don’t want to be the throw away score,” Bide said.

GCSU golf gets the week off, and resumes play at the State Farm-Laker Collegiate Invitational Sept. 29-30 in Morrow, GA.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 19 2008. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry