Blanco Ties Personal Best At The Gary Freeman Spring Invite
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – After a tough outing at The Legacy Intercollegiate, Coach Marshall Cropper and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Men’s Golf Team rebounded with a strong performance at the Gary Freeman Spring Invitational as they finished 12th overall. The two-day, three round (54-hole) event was hosted by Bethune-Cookman (BCU) and held at the LPGA International Golf Course (72 Par, 6902 yards).
In their fourth time at this event, the Hawks had their best showing collectively. UMES held the ninth spot after two rounds, but fell three slots on the final day. Despite the results, Maryland Eastern Shore had positive feedback to build towards the future.
Collectively, the Hawks recorded a 938 (+74) in three rounds; thus, becoming the best team average in the program’s history when participating in a 54-hole event. Senior Norman Blanco (New Orleans, La.) and junior Bryce Young led the way.
Individually, Blanco posted a 224 (+8) and tied his personal best on the final day as he registered a 71 (-1). In his Hawk career, he has tied former teammate Michael Veverka with the most par (E) or better rounds in the school’s history. Furthermore, the Louisiana native shot the third-lowest individual average in a three-round tourney in the Hawk’s D-1 history.
For Young, he was not too far behind. In three rounds, the Maryland product recorded a 225 (+9) and inked himself in the record book. With his efforts, he has the fourth-lowest individual average in a 54-hole event in the program’s history.
Other notable achievement included sophomore Timothy Mitchell moving up on the most rounds played list. Mitchell has competed in 33 rounds and moved into sixth overall, passing Sedrick Bailey and Kijontray McClay.
Lynn won the 2016 BCU Gary Freeman Spring Invitational by 21 strokes over Morehead State. Lynn had three-out-of-five finish in the top five, led by Martin Cancino winning the event. Teammates Jose Andres Miranda and Manuel Torres finished second and third, respectively.
Maryland Eastern Shore will have nearly a month away from the fairways as their next challenge will take place in Tallahassee, Fla. at the Florida A&M (FAMU) Rattler Invitational (April 1-3).
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Bethune-Cookman Takes Fourth At Gary Freeman Invitational
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Men’s Golf climbed a spot in the final round on Friday afternoon, turning in a fourth place finish at the 2016 Gary Freeman Spring Invitational, hosted by Bethune-Cookman at LPGA International. The two-day, 54-hole event took place on the Jones Course.
Sitting in fifth place after the opening day’s 36 holes on Thursday, Bethune-Cookman (291-287-295=873, +9) shot into third place early-on in Friday’s final round. The Wildcats would falter with four late bogeys, but still collect a fourth place showing, finishing two strokes ahead of Stetson (286-290-299=875, +11).
Leon Fricker (70-72-73=215, -1), a senior from Ivybridge, England, shot a final round 1-over-par 73, earning himself an eighth place showing in the tournament field. The younger brother of former B-CU golfer Ryan Fricker, a 2013 NCAA Tournament participant, enjoyed the luxury of playing his first home collegiate event in front of his mother who was visiting from England.
Jackson Kneeshaw (76-72-72=220, +4), a fellow senior for the Wildcats and native of Darlington, England, finished tied for 16th on the leaderboard after carding back-to-back even-par rounds to finish his final hole event as a member of the Maroon and Gold.
Just a stroke behind Kneeshaw was teammate Bradley Peil (76-70-75=221, +5). The third senior in the B-CU scoring lineup, Peil – a native of Rescue, California, turned in a final round scorecard of 3-over 75, allowing him to place tied for 21st overall.
Newcomer Joel Ramirez (73-73-76=222, +6), playing in just his second tournament as a member of the Wildcats team, placed tied for 23rd after firing a final round 4-over 76.
The final scoring Wildcats student-athlete was Connor O’Brien (72-76-75=223, +7), dropping a stroke off Thursday’s second round with a final round 3-over 75. That allowed the Harpenden, England sophomore to finish the tournament in a tie for 26th.
Two Wildcats played as individuals, as sophomore Scott Lemon (79-76-76=231, +15) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada tied for 49th. And it was Liam Chambers (78-72-82-232, +16) of Helensburgh, Scotland turned in a tie for 52nd place performance for the tournament.
It was Lynn, the top men’s team in Division II, sweeping team and individual medalist honors for 2016. The Knights used Martin Cancino, originally slated into the lineup as a number five player, to explode in front and never look back.
Cancino (69-72-67=208, -8) took home top individual honors, while Lynn (275-283-283=841, -23) collected the team trophy. Morehead State (283-285-294=862, -2) was second, and it was Florida Atlantic (285-291-291=867, +3), the defending champion from 2015, taking home a third place finish.
The Wildcats next compete at the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular taking place March 12-13, in Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com