MOBILE, Ala. Lee settled for a third-place finish in the annual Gulf South Conference Men's Golf Championship that was staged at the RTJ Magnolia Grove (Crossings) over the past three days. West Florida posted a 280 on Tuesday and finished with a team total of 851 the 54-hole event, racing past the first two-round leader Shorter University (284-854).
The Flames tallied a 290 in the final round and 868 for the tournament. Montevallo (878) and Christian Brothers (885) rounded out the top five.
"It was a disappointing result for us this week. You have to make birdies at this course and we just never got it going," said Lee coach and director of golf John Maupin. "We have had such a good spring season, and it is just frustrating not to play better than we did this week.
"Thankfully, our season does not end here, and we can be in a position to be really well prepared for Regionals in a few weeks," Maupin concluded.
Beck Burnette returned to his standard form with a 3-under 69 to set the pace for the Flames on Tuesday and tied teammate Oliver Lewis-Perkins for 13th in the medalist standings. Lewis-Perkins was 1-over (73) and both golfers finished at 217. West Florida's Elias Haavisto tied Burnette for the top score (69) on Tuesday and his 210 overall score claimed medalist honors.
Lee's Dalton Chuba had a 2-over 74 and his 225 placed him at 25th in the tournament. Connor Pollman rounded out the scoring for the Flames. He put up a 75 on Tuesday and a 227 for the tournament.
The 3rd-ranked Lee team will go back to work and get ready for the NCAA South Regional which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 11-13.
