South Florida repeats as American Conference champions
USF celebrates second straight AAC title
(USF Photo)
LECANTO, FL (May 3, 2016) - For the second straight year the South Florida Bulls rein supreme at the American Conference Championship. The Bulls closed out the 54-hole event with a 10-under final round that put them at 19-under for the tournament and 20-strokes in front of second place Memphis.
Four of the five USF players that competed this week, finished under-par and inside the top-six of the final individual standings at the Black Diamond Ranch. In fact the Bulls claimed three of the four top spots including the medalist position which was won by senior Aksel Olsen.
During the final round Olsen, 7-under, was able to overtake 36-hole leader and senior teammate Chase Koepka who finished two-strokes behind at 5-under. Olsen exploded out of the gates on Tuesday and through his first 14 holes he was 5-under on his round and 9-under for the tournament.
Then the wheels began to fall off a bit for Olsen who had begun the day one back and in third place. Following his fifth and final birdie of the day on No. 14, Olsen went bogey-bogey on the next two holes to fall back to 7-under for the tournament. However, from there Olsen steadied himself and parred out to capture the medalist honors and his second tournament win of the season. Olsen completed the day in 69 shots good for a 3-under scorecard.
Koepka, the younger brother of PGA Tour player Brooks Koepka, shot an even-par final round to finish 5-under and in third place. Sophomore Claudio Correa was one-stroke further back in third while junior Rigel Fernandes was tied for sixth at 2-under. Rounding out the USF five was sophomore Christian DiMarco, 5-over, tied for 20th. DiMarco is the son of three-time PGA Tour winner Chris DiMarco.
The surprising round of the tournament came during the final day thanks to Memphis senior Thomas Perrot. After beginning the day 1-under, four strokes back Perrot but together a bogey-free 5-under 67 final round to finish second. Perrot was 6-under for the tournament.
Behind second place Memphis (+1) in the team standings is Houston (+7) in third, East Carolina (+9) in fourth and USC (+12) in fifth.
ABOUT THE
The American Championship
54-hole stroke play event for American Athletic
Conference Championship tournament. Team (best
four
scores out of five players each round) and individual
competitions.
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