Lee Today

Florida Gulf Coast University Athletics issued the following announcement on Sept. 28.

Eagles fire seven under third round to jump four spots on final day; Austin Cherichella takes sixth individually.

 Thanks to a big third round on Tuesday, the FGCU men's golf team finished second overall at the Graeme McDowell Invitational hosted by UAB at RTJ at Silver Lakes. The Eagles shot seven under to jump four spots from a tie for sixth to second with a third-round score of 281.

 

Individually, FGCU had two golfers finish among the top 10 with Austin Cherichella taking sixth, while Brady Madsen tied for seventh. The second place finish as a team marked the fourth time since the start of last season that the Eagles finished second or won a tournament.

 

"I'm really proud of our team today. We had six scores at 72-or-better and everyone showed great resiliency and determination to put some good rounds on the board," said head coach Andrew Danna. "We are looking forward to our next opportunity to compete."

 

As a team, the Eagles posted a 54-hole score of 860 with Tuesday's third round score the best of the two-day event for FGCU. UAB won the team title shooting 837 for the three rounds including a 279 on Tuesday. The Eagles edged out Texas State by three strokes.

 

Four of FGCU's five golfers shot under par on Tuesday, while Thomas Salanito, who played as an individual, did so as well. As a team, the Eagles collected 62 birdies for the second-most among the 16-team field. Cherichella and Madsen each had 16 which tied as the fourth-most among all players.

 

Cherichella, who shot 66 on Monday in the second round, caught fire on the back end of the course on Tuesday to shoot a two-under 70. After going two over on the front side, the sophomore shot four under highlighted by four consecutive birdies.

 

Madsen had just two bogeys on the day, while picking up three birdies including two on the front nine to hit the turn one under. He closed out the course with a birdie on No. 14 before posting four straight evens.

 

Tying Cherichella for the lowest scores on the team on Tuesday were Pierre Viallaneix and Jon Hopkins who each shot 70 to finish the day two under. Frankie Capan III was the only player not to go under par, but did finish even at 72. Salanito was one-under thanks in part to a strong start with two birdies in the first six holes. Hopkins had his best round of the tournament with six birdies which helped cut 12 shots off his second round total from Monday.

 

The Eagles will next compete on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 11-12, at the BMW Collegiate Invitational hosted by Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C.

 

FGCU Lineup:

6 - Austin Cherichella – 77-66-70 – 213

T7 - Brady Madsen – 70-73-71 – 214

T20 - Pierre Viallaneix – 74-73-70 – 217

T33 - Frankie Capan III – 76-73-72 – 221

T44 - Thomas Salanito (Individual) – 78-74-71 - 223

T56 - Jon Hopkins – 74-82-70 – 226

 

Graeme Invitational Field:

1 - #36 UAB-A – 281-277-279-837

2 - #65 FGCU – 294-285-281 - 860

3 - #117 Texas State – 283-287-293 - 863

4 - #86 Louisiana-Monroe – 293-284-288 - 865

5 - #124 South Alabama – 290-288-288 - 866

6 - #120 Jacksonville State – 293-288-291 - 872

7 - #167 Troy – 293-286-295 - 874

8 - #152 Lipscomb – 288-286-301 - 875

9 - #99 Louisiana – 294-297-285 - 876

10 - #135 Charleston Southern – 286-300-294 - 880

11 - #172 Western Kentucky – 296-284-303 - 883

12 - North Alabama – 288-297-300-885

13 - #206 Samford – 298-295-295 - 888

14 - UAB-B – 294-297-305 – 896

15 - #136 Georgia State – 300-306-300 - 906

16 - #204 Winthrop – 306-300-312 - 918

For complete coverage of FGCU men's golf, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram (@FGCU_MGolf), Facebook (@FGCUAthletics), and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU men's golf and all 15 sport programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.

Original source can be found here.