FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – The University of Montevallo men’s golf team finished sixth in team standings while competing against an impressive field of NCAA Division I programs March 4-5 at the Samford University Intercollegiate tournament at Hoover Country Club.

The Falcons, who entered the spring portion of its season ranked No. 16 in Golf Stat’s NCAA Division II head-to-head rankings, carded a three-round score of 29-over par 893 in the tournament. Southeastern Conference participant Auburn University won the tournament with a three-round score of 1-over par 865.

“This tournament was great for us to test ourselves against some great competition and the guys huyng in there for all three rounds,” said Montevallo men’s golf coach Justin Pratt. “We came away realizing we should have finished higher than we did if we could have finished our rounds better. We gave away too many shots in the last six holes of every round we played. If we work on finishing better and continue to work on our short games, we will get the results we want in our upcoming tournaments.”

Vanderbilt University finished second with a three-round score of 12-over par 876, while Georgia Southern University came in third in team standings with a 16-over par 880. Winthrop University carded a score of 23-over par 887 and host Samford University posted a 24-over par 888 to round out the top five teams.

Montevallo finished ahead of Francis Marion University, the only other NCAA Division II team in the tournament, as well as NCAA Division I teams Western Carolina University, Furman University, Belmont University, Eastern Kentucky University, Tennessee Tech University, Presbyterian College, Murray State University, UT-Martin, Southern Illinois University, Bowling Green State University and Evansville University.

Freshman Dalton Skinner led the Falcons individually with a tournament total even par 216. Skinner, who posted a 1-under 71 in the second round, finished in a tie for fifth in individual standings.

Hunter Stewart of Vanderbilt University won the individual championship with a three-day score of 5-under par 211.

Junior Conner Godsey carded a 2-over par 218 in the three-round tournament, which placed him in a tie for ninth in individual standings.

Senior Andrew Lowry finished 56^th in individual standings with a three-round score of 15-over par 231. Fellow senior Austin Murphey, who carded a three-round score of 17-over par 233, finished in a tie for 66^th in individual standings.

Freshman Juan Noce rounded out the group of Montevallo golfers with his 19-over par 235, which placed him in a tie for 72^ndoverall in individual standings.

The Falcons return to action March 18-19 at the Panther Invitational at The Majors Golf Club in Palm Bay, Fla.