Robby Shelton
EATONTON, GA (March 22, 2016)--On the final day of the Linger Longer Invitational at Great Waters Golf Course No. 9 Alabama (852) was able to hold on for a three shot win. Augusta and No. 5 Georgia tied for second place at 855.
The Crimson Tide earned win number four on the year by placing three golfers in the top-12. Junior Robby Shelton (-5), a first team All-American the last two years finished sixth; freshman Davis Riley (-4) was alone in seventh and senior Tom Lovelady (-2) earned the 12th place spot.
In the medalist competition Georgia seniors Lee McCoy (-9) and Sepp Straka (-8) finished one-two. McCoy shot a final day 2-under 70 to come away with the victory.
The Georgia senior began the day tied for the lead with Virginia junior Jimmy Stanger (-3). Unfortunately, it was a difficult day for Stanger as he shot a 4-over par 76 to finish well back in an eighth place tie.
Less then two weeks since finishing fourth at the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship, McCoy posted rounds 70-67-70 to claim the victory. McCoy began his final round on No. 1 and struggled on the front nine shooting a 1-over par 37. His big blemish was double-bogey on the par-4 seventh.
McCoy would rebound in a big way on the backside. With no momentum on his side the Georgia senior carded four consecutive birdies on holes 10-13. It was the beginning of a wild back nine for McCoy who followed the four straight birdies with two bogey's and another birdie. He parred just two holes on his way to the clubhouse.
However, McCoy did come up clutch. Needing a birdie to win on the final hole he did just that as he penciled in a three on the closing hole.
DAY TWO RECAP
No. 9 Alabama (567) holds a slim lead over No. 23 Virginia (570) after two days of competition at the Linger Longer Invitational at Great Waters Golf Course. The Crimson Tide will be looking for their fourth win of the season. They last won at the Puerto Rico Classic at the end of February.
Alabama has been led by three players in the top-11 slots of the individual standings. Senior Tom Lovelady (-4) is leading his squad sitting in a sixth place tie. Lovelady is three off the lead in the individual race.
Freshman Davis Riley (-3) also resides inside the top-10 in a tie for ninth. Junior Robby Shelton (-2) concludes the trio of Alabama golfers in the top-11 as he is tied for that position.
However, all eyes will be focused on what could be a two-man race tomorrow for medalist honors between Georgia's Lee McCoy (70-67) and Virginia's Jimmy Stranger (69-68). Both players are at 7-under par through two days and two strokes clear of the field.
McCoy, just a little more then a week removed from his fourth place finish at the Valspar Championship, fired the low round of a day with a 67. The Georgia senior began his day on the 10th hole and promptly birdied four of the first six holes on his way to an opening 33. The highlight on his second nine was an eagle on the par-5 second hole. On the day McCoy carded 5 birdies, an eagle, two bogeys and the rest pars.
Stanger, coming off his win earlier in the month at the General Hackler Championship, was nearly as good as McCoy shooting 68. The crucial part of the round for the Virginia junior was holes four-six when he picked up three straight birdies. Stranger birdied six and bogeyed two in his second round.
Three players are at 5-under par tied for second. Another three players, including Lovelady, sit three off the lead at 4-under par.
ABOUT THE
Linger Longer Invitational
54-hole men's college tournament co-hosted by
University of Georgia, Mercer
University and Kennesaw State University. Team
(best
four scores of five players each round and individual
competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information