Sunset Beach, N.C. ? The Stetson men's golf team improved on its second round score by eight strokes in the final round of the Sea Trail Intercollegiate on Sunday, finishing 10th overall in the field of 18 teams. Freshman Sam Ryder (Longwood, Fla.) shot two under par 70, breaking par for the second time in the tournament. Junior Dave McAndrew (Barrington, R.I.) fired an even par 72 to lead the squad with his 16th place individual finish.
McAndrew tied for 16th at +2 for the weekend, six strokes behind medalist Steve Dressel of the host Elon Phoenix. The Hatters were 28 over par as a team in the 54-hole event, two strokes behind ninth place USC Upstate, the only other Atlantic Sun conference team in the field. Murray State (+4) led wire-to-wire and won the tournament by 10 strokes over Guilford College.
Ryder's 70 allowed him to finish in the top 25 in his first collegiate competition. He tied for 23rd place out of 96 golfers at five over par. Sophomore Gabe Costa (Tequesta, Fla.) tied for 43rd at +9 after a final round 77 while senior Tommy Parker (Palm Beach, Fla.) shot 75 on Sunday, tying for 57th place at +13. Sophomore Joe Brown (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) carded a 77 in the final round and tied for 83rd place at 21 over par.
The Hatters return to action Friday, October 3 when they tee it up in the Mission Inn Collegiate Classic, hosted by St. John's at the Mission Inn Resort El Campeon Course in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. The 54-hole event runs through the weekend.
