Robby Shelton
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. - The Alabama men's golf team rolled to its second tournament title of the season on Tuesday with a 16-shot victory at the 2013 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate at the par-70, 7,204-yard Old Overton Country Club."The guys did a really good job today," Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. "These were championship pins today - the really tough pins. The greens were a little faster, and to shoot under par around Old Overton is an accomplishment. I am proud of our team, and they way they played. Everybody stepped up today and did their job, it is a good victory."
The top-ranked Crimson Tide shot 3-under-par 277 in the final round with Texas A&M firing a 283 for a second-place finish (+5, 845). UAB shot 281 on Tuesday to tie for the second-lowest round of the day and vault into third at 6-over 846. Texas finished fourth at 12-over 852 with Auburn rounding out the top five at 17-over 857.
It was the sixth team victory for the Crimson Tide at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate in the last eight years and second straight. It also marked just the second time in school history Alabama has won its first two events. The 2006-07 team won its first three events.
The Crimson Tide's average margin of victory in its first two events is 17 shots. Alabama won the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational by 18 shots and the JPNI by 16 and is averaging 279.7 strokes per round. The Tide is 2-under par over six rounds this season with Mullinax averaging 69.5 strokes per round and Shelton 68.8.
Mullinax, a native of Birmingham, carded a 2-under 68 in the final round to finish three shots back of medalist Wilson McDonald of UAB (-8, 202). Mullinax fired two rounds in the 60s to finish second and lead all Alabama scorers.
"Trey did a great job today and finished runner up," Seawell said. "He has done a fantastic job all year. He is transforming into one of the elite collegiate players in the country and we are very excited about that. We are going to be a good team and have a chance to do some great things if we continue to play to the Alabama standard."
True freshman Robby Shelton followed up medalist honors at the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational with a tie for fourth at the JPNI, posting a 1-under 209. Birmingham native Tom Lovelady finished seventh at 1-over 211.
Senior Cory Whistsett shot 69 in Tuesday's final round to finish tied for eighth at 2-over 212. Fellow senior Bobby Wyatt had a rough final round of 79 to finish tied for 23rd at 6-over 216.
"It was great to get a second team win," Whitsett said. "This is the first time we have started 2-0 since I have been in school. The undefeated season is still intact. It was a good team win and we are excited about the opportunity to continue to play to our standard each and every time we go out on the course - during competition or in practice."
Alabama returns to action on Oct. 20-22, at the Isleworth Collegiate Classic at the Isleworth Country Club in Windermere, Fla.
View results for Jerry Pate Intercollegiate
ABOUT THE Jerry Pate Intercollegiate
54-hole men's college tournament
hosted
by the University of Alabama. Team (best four scores
out of five players each round) and individual
competitions.
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