Alabama winners for the fourth time this season
(Alabama Athletics Photo)
EATONON, GA (March 20, 2018) - As April quickly approaches No. 5 Alabama is making sure that the rest of the country doesn't forget about them.
For the fourth time this season and first time this spring the Crimson Tide are in the winners circle, this time as they captured the Linger Longer Invitational. Behind medalist winner Lee Hodges Alabama was able to finish 24-under and just inch out second place Georgia (-22) by a pair of shots at the Great Waters Golf Course.
Penn State (-8) was a distant third, Ohio State (-3) was fourth and Virginia (+1) was fifth.
"It was a big day today," Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said of his teams fifth win in at eight years at the event. "We felt like we've played good golf this spring, but just haven't been able to put four scores together and we did a good job of that this week. Everyone had a hand in this tournament win and that is what it takes. It was a good week and we saw the fruits of our labor. We've been working hard and that's what is most exciting about this win and what makes it even more special."
Hodges, 14-under overall, used a run of birdies early on the back nine to create the separation he needed during the final round. 11-under for the tournament after a 2-under 34 frontside Hodges rolled in birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 15 as he pulled away just enough.
For the tournament, Hodges a senior, carded rounds of 67-68-67 as he picked his second win of the spring and fourth win of his career.
For Alabama the victory was a total team effort with all the remaining four players contributing at least one score to the team total; Davis Riley (5th; -6), Davis Shore (T25; +2), Wilson Furr (T25; +2) and Jonathan Hardee (T32; +3).
Behind Hodges in the medalist race came Spencer Ralston (Georgia) at 12-under in second, Davis Thompson (Georgia) and Bryce Hendrix (UNCG) shared third at 10-under while Riley (Alabama) was 5-under in fifth.
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