FGCU Mens Golf repeats | Eagles soar to West Bay Collegiate win
It came down to the final round, and just one stroke, but Florida Gulf Coast University held on to defend home turf at the West Bay Collegiate Invitational this past week.
That marks back-to-back wins for the Eagles, as the team again hoisted the trophy in a tournament hosted by FGCU at West Bay Club in Estero.
As a group, the Eagles shot 33 under par (831) across three rounds, just barely edging out Lipscomb, which shot 32 under, in a field of 15 teams.
FGCU carded rounds of 276, 282 and 273 at the par-72, 6,939-yard layout.
The Eagles finished 13 shots clear of Troy, ULM and Stetson, who tied for third at 844.
The title is the Eagles’ first under head coach Lee McCoy.
Leading the way for the Eagles was senior Christian Figueredo, who turned in a runner-up finish at 11-under 205 (67-69-69), two shots behind medalist Uy Doan of Stetson.
Figueredo opened with a 5-under 67, turning in a 4-under 32 on the front nine with an eagle at the par-5 second and birdies at holes No. 4 and 6. He added birdies at 15 and 17 on the back nine. In round two, Figueredo birdied holes No. 2, 5 and 6, and closed with a 2-under 34 on the back nine, with birdies at 13 and 18, for a 3-under 69.
To help seal the deal, the senior posted another 69 in the final round, birdieing holes No. 2, 6 and 9 on the front nine, and 15 and 16 on the back nine. Figueredo improved on his tie for 26th at last year’s West Bay Collegiate.
Turning in a top-10 finish, FGCU’s Brody Stevenson finished eighth at 8-under 208 (67-72-69). He matched Figueredo’s opening 5-under 67 with a 2-under 34 on the front nine and a 3-under 33 on the back nine. That back nine included an eagle at the par-5 15th and birdies at 12 and 16.
Stevenson played the back nine in 1-under 35 in round two with birdies at holes No. 11, 13, 15 and 16. In the final round, he closed with a 3-under 33 on the back nine, birdieing four of the last nine holes at No. 10, 15, 16 and 17 for a 69. Stevenson birdied No. 2 and No. 16 in all three rounds and moved up from his tie for 15th at last year’s event.
Turning in a bit of a clutch performance was freshman Jay Wilson, who tied for 24th at 4-under 212 (70-75-67) and saved his best for last.
His final-round 5-under 67 was the Eagles’ low round of the day. Wilson turned in a 3-under 33 on the front nine, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 sixth and birdies at holes No. 1, 2 and 7. He added three more birdies at Nos. 10, 12 and 13 on the back nine. In round one, he played the back nine in 3-under 33 with birdies at 11, 12, 13 and 17 for a 2-under 70. In round two he parred Nos. 8 through 16 and birdied 17.
Other Eagles that contributed to the win were Alfie Storer, who finished 32nd (2-under 214), and Mason Fundingsland, who finished 55th (2-over 218).
As a team, FGCU tied for the second-most eagles in the field with four. The Eagles also had the fourth-most birdies (64) and tied for the third-most pars (161). The team also tied for the third-fewest bogeys. Stevenson was tied for ninth in the field with 15 birdies, while Figueredo and Fundingsland tied for 11th with 14 apiece, while Wilson tied for 20th with 13. Storer tied for fourth in the field with 38 pars, Figueredo tied for 10th with 35 and Wilson tied for 28th with 32. Figueredo also tied for the second-fewest bogeys in the field.
FGCU returns to action Oct. 12-14 at The Bryson Invitational at Trump National Doral in Miami.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com