Men's golf team falls in playoff at Titan Winter Invitational
After three rounds, the Eastern Florida State College men's golf team was tied with No. 1 New Mexico Junior College, forcing a playoff Tuesday afternoon at the Titan Winter Invitational.
The Titans and Thunderbirds each finished the three rounds at 881 to force a one-hole playoff between the teams at Suntree Country Club.
All five golfers for both teams went back down No. 10 at Suntree Country Club for the title. New Mexico Junior College shot 5-under as a group on the hole to capture the team title.
The second-place finish was the second straight year that the Titans have been the runner-up at the Titan Winter Invitational.
"It's good experience for both teams, our guys have never been in a playoff like this before so something a bit different for them. We kind of stumbled around out there today, I was a bit surprised there was a playoff so it tickled me to have a chance," Eastern Florida State College men's golf coach Jamie Howell said. "Give New Mexico the credit, they just went out and won it."
Freshman Adam Vermut placed third overall after shooting a final round 74. The Jacksonville native shot a 213 for the tournament.
Eastern Florida State College freshman Nicholas Miller, playing as an individual, placed fourth overall in the tournament after a final round 71. Miller finished two strokes behind Vermut.
"He really struggled in qualifying last week and he turned it around this week and I am happy for him, his first top five finish and I know he feels good about that," Howell said.
Brandon Boncore was tied for ninth overall with a final round 74 to finish at 220 for the tournament. Teammate Noah Campbell shot a 73 on Tuesday and tied for 12th overall with a 224. Robert Greninger finished in a tie for 28th and Murphy Allard tied for 41st.
"Adam hung in there, Brandon played well but the putter didn't cooperate and Noah hung in there. The two high scores hurt, it wasn't for a lack of effort, we just have to execute better," Howell said. "We have worked hard getting ready for this, so we need some rest and get back to it, take this and learn from it and move on."
The individual title also went to a playoff as Webber International's Vedant Sirohi chipped in on his final hole to tie New Mexico Junior College's Matthis Lefevre. Lefevre shot the round of the tournament on Tuesday, firing a 66 to help New Mexico JC catch the Titans.
The two played the 18th hole twice before Lefevre hit his second shot close to the pin on the third playoff hole to secure the medalist title.
Overall there were six rounds under 70 in the tournament with six different players recording them. Eastern Florida State College's Vermut and Miller had two of them.
Eastern Florida State College will get ready for the Coastal Alabama Invitational in Spanish Fort, Alabama on Feb. 13-14.
