NEWNAN, Ga. – The Fire men's golf team has been making progress early this spring and it paid off in Tuesday's final round. Southeastern University bested Faulkner University in a one-half playoff and claimed its first tournament win of the season at the Spring Skyhawk Classic.
After holding a five-stroke lead with two rounds in the books, SEU proved to have enough for the team title in a two-team playoff with Faulkner. Leading the Fire charge, both Spencer McCranie and Connor Williams were both tied for strong top 5 positions in second and fourth.
SEU and Faulkner tied for +28 over par with 892 strokes in his three rounds. The Fire posted a 298 Sunday round and followed with an even stronger 294 on Monday. Despite dropping off by a few strokes for a 300 on Tuesday, SEU too the team crown via the playoff. Webber International was 13 strokes back at +41 (905) of the 10-team field.
Behind the best round of the entire Classic, McCranie fired a Monday score of 68 between first and third rounds of 75 for a 218 total (+2) for a tie for second. Faulkner's Rodolpha Cicala was the lone under par (-2) golfer of the event and won the individual medalist by four strokes at 214.
Only a single stroke back from his teammate, Williams registered a tie for fourth with a +3 (219). Williams shot the strongest opening round of 70 and added a solid 72 Monday score, before he ended with a round of 77.
Moving up a spot on the final day, Marley Read ended as the third top 10 finisher for the Fire. Following a tough 78 in his first round, Read improved by five strokes to 73 on Monday and shot a 75 for Tuesday and totaled 226 for a +10 final score.
Zach Shaw was the fourth Fire golfer in the field and second to move up the final day to a tie for 19th. Shaw scored identical first and third rounds of 75 with an 82 in between for a +16 score and 232-stroke total.
Making the biggest jump in the entire field with three others, Nicholas Faraone rose 10 spots in the final standings to 30th with a +23 (239). Faraone opened with rounds of 83 and 81 before he produced his best round of 75 on the final day.
SEU will have a couple weeks to enjoy the victory before they travel to Laughlin, Nevada, for "The Battle," sponsored by Wayland Baptist, on March 22-24 at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Club course.
