MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Fire returned to the links for the first time this spring with solid success. Connor Williams claimed third place individually and led Southeastern University for third in the 14-team East Florida State Titan Winter Invitational.
Williams started off on fire as he shot a first round best-of-the-field 66. The SEU freshman followed with two identical rounds of 74 for a 214 total and two under par for the event.
In the team standings, the Fire had their best team day in round two with a best round of 288. The Fire shot a 293 in the first round and 296 to finish the Invitational. SEU posted an 877 team total, 13 over par for third place, which was impressive as the top-ranked junior college team, Mississippi Gulf Coast, won the event with a -3/861. Host East Florida State was between the two teams in second place (+8/872).
Mississippi Gulf Coast's John Mark Mills gained the medalist honors with a three-round 210 (-6), which was two strokes better than Vedant Sirohl of Webber International and his 212 (-4).
After Williams' third-place finish, SEU's next two golfers – Marley Read and Adam Crawley – were a stroke apart for tied for 12th and 15th in the 74-golfer field. Read shot his best round on the first day of 71 with 75 and 73 as the other two 18-hole totals for a 219. Crawley recorded 74 for both the opening and third rounds with a 72 for round two.
The Fire's second-best individual round went to Zach Shaw and his second round 69. Shaw, who tied for 25th, added an 82 and 75 for a 226 total.
Rounding out the Fire golfers, junior Nicholas Faraone finished the event strong as he rose six places in the final round where he shot a 76 for 39th (233).Faraone started with an 84, but sharply rebounded with a 73 round two.
SEU returns for its second spring event February 9-11, in the Coastal Georgia Invitational at Brunswick, Ga..
