Men's Golf Rallies for 10th Place Finish at Linger Longer

Tuesday, March 29

Mercer University

Linger Longer Invitational

Men's Golf Rallies for 10th Place Finish at Linger Longer

3/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

GREENSBORO, Ga. – Led by sophomore Thomas Holmes' even-par 72, the Mercer men's golf team rallied for a 10^th place finish on the last day of the Linger Longer Invitational. Mercer's team score of 291 on Tuesday was a 16-stroke improvement on its second round total at the Great Waters Golf Course.

No. 4 Alabama ran away with the tournament title, finishing the 54-hole contest with a score of 846 (-18). No. 49 Chattanooga (864) finished second while No. 13 Georgia and No. 15 Stanford tied for third place. Florida State (872) rounded out the top-five teams.

"What a great time to play well," Mercer head coach Andrew Tredway said. "We were so down about how we played the previous two days and they really bounced back in a strong way. That's the mark of a good team."

Mercer's three-day total of 898 placed the team five shots ahead of Jacksonville and eight strokes behind Coastal Carolina on the leaderboard. Mercer's 291 on Tuesday equaled the efforts of No. 15 Stanford and No. 49 Chattanooga and bested performances by Charlotte, Memphis, Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville, Furman and Appalachian State.

"We've been trying to stay positive this whole season and build confidence throughout practice and performance and this is definitely something that will help get us going," Tredway said.

"I am really pleased with how the guys responded to some constructive criticism that we gave them yesterday," Tredway said. "It's sometimes hard to hear, but our guys responded in a big way. I'm very proud of them for that."

Junior Josh Cone took home Mercer's top individual finish, a tie for 24^th place. Cone fired a one-over 73 on Tuesday, bringing his tournament total to 221. Also posting 73's for Mercer on Tuesday were junior John Gregory Joseph and sophomore Matt Kocolowski.

"Cone was solid as always," said Tredway. "He's showing why he belongs with the best players in the country. He's an outstanding player for us."

Joseph's 73 combined with an opening round 76 and a second round 78 to place him 47^th overall.

Kocolowski took a circuitous route to his 73, shooting three-under on his first nine holes – including an eagle on the 540-yard 18^th hole. Kocolowski collected a tournament score of 228 (78-77-73) and tied for 48^th place overall.

Freshman Mookie DeMoss turned in a 75 on Tuesday and had the most consistent performance of the Mercer competitors. DeMoss shot 74-76-75 to place in a tie for 36^th overall.

Holmes wrapped up the event in a tie for 53^rd place overall after turning in scores of 78 and 79 in the first two rounds.

Freshman Hans Reimers posted a 75 on Tuesday and tied of 40^th place overall. Reimers' tournament score of 226 (77-74-75) equaled the efforts of six other participants. Freshman James Beale capped the event with his best round, a five-over 77. Beale completed the competition in 68^th place overall (238).

Mercer returns to action at the Irish Creek Invitational on April 9-10. The event marks Mercer's final tournament before the Atlantic Sun Championship on April 18-20.