Men's golf team places second at Titan Winter Invitational

The Eastern Florida State College men's golf team finished second at the Titan Winter Invitational on Tuesday at Suntree Country Club.

The Titans shot even par 288 in the final round to finish the three rounds 8-over as a team. NJCAA Division II defending national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast won the title, shooting a 2-under in the final round to finish the tournament at 3-under. Southeastern University was third with Central Alabama Community College fourth in the 14-team event.

The Titans finished off a round of 4-over Tuesday morning and then wrapped up the tournament with their best round of the tournament.

"They finished strong and I like that, we shot even par today and I don't know when the last time we played a 54-hole event. Good solid tournament by Danny Byers," Eastern Florida State College men's golf coach Jamie Howell said. "Mississippi Gulf Coast is a really good team and played a good tournament."

Jamie Chepenik had four birdies on the back nine and shot a 2-under 70 while teammate Masen McKain had an eagle on No. 10 and shot a 1-under 71 in the final round. McKain shot a 71 in the second round as well to finish the tournament in a tie for eighth place. Micke Laurelli tied for 12^th overall at 3-over par while Hugo Griesheimer finished tied for 25^th.

Individually, Horace Pennix tied for 12^th at 3-over for the tournament and teammate Adam Ward was 62^nd and Andrew Bell finished 65^th.

"I think the team should walk away feeling good about this, January was just not a very good month to play and we struggled. It was nice to see the games come around and the hard work to pay off," Howell said.

Danny Byers had a good start to his Eastern Florida State College season, tying for fourth overall at 1-under after rounds of 69, 72 and 74.

"I feel pretty good, a bit disappointed that I didn't get the results I was hoping for, I was playing really well but just didn't hit many putts down the stretch," Byers said.

Byers opened with the 3-under 69 and then shot even par on the second round which finished Tuesday morning.

"I hit the ball as good as I ever have this week and my game just kind of came together," Byers said. "I just think this team meshes really well together and everybody has the firepower to go out and shoot 2 or 3-under."

Mississippi Gulf Coast's John Mark Mills shot under par for all three rounds to win the individual title at 6-under. Webber International's Vedant Sirohi was second at 4-under.

Eastern Florida State College will travel to Alabama for the Juniper Creek Invitational on Feb. 24-25.