PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Southeastern University's Marlie Smit rocketed eight spots and tied as the women's medalists while three of the men's golfers moved up the standings in The Invite at Innisbrook.
Off the best round (69) of the 99-golfer field, Smit shot up eight places and tied both Sara Burger and Jia Katarie, both of Dalton State, for first place in the women's field with final scores of +3 / 216.
The SEU men saw three of their five players move up the men's standings in the third round of play. Marley Read rose three spots to ninth (+4/217), while Zach Shaw moved up by 11 spots to 22nd (+9/222) and Spencer McCranie went up 12 places to 31st (+12/225).
In the team standings, the SEU women garnered fourth place with a +45/897. Savannah College of Art & Design-Savannah won the 19-team women's field by 16 strokes (+19/871) over Dalton State (+35/887). Eckerd College outshot SECU by four strokes for third (+41/893).
On the men's side, the Fire started the final day in 5th place of the 20 teams and held there in the final standings with a +36/888. Leading the field, NAIA defending national champion Dalton State won the men's title by seven strokes with a +18/870 over Keiser University and Campbellsville University, which tied for second at +25/877. William Carey bested SEU by four strokes for fourth (+36/884).
Campbellsville's Kevin Latchayya captured the men's medalist award by two strokes over Dalton State's Jake Whaley.
For the SEU women, Smit started the event with a opening round of 71 and finished it with the field's best 69.
Smit's teammate, Madie Harper, was the biggest riser for the Fire women as she raced up the standings by 14 positions to 26th (+15/228). She was consistent and hit a third-round 74.
Rounding out the SEU women, Mariana Espinosa, who shot the best second round of the field of 69, and Maria Stephens tied for 32nd with a score of +17/230. Lauren Hosier had a +21/234 for 42nd.
For the Fire men along with the three team members who moved up on Tuesday, Connor Williams hit a solid 72 in the first round and placed 26th for the event at +11/224. Nicholas Faraone completed the scorers with a +26/239 in 88th.
The SEU teams split up for their next events. The Fire women go to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the Carey Intercollegiate on Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The men have off until they travel to Tennessee Wesleyan's Bojangles Intercollegiate in Vonore, Tenn. in mid-October.
