Lee Hodges finished third as No. 4 Alabama took title
(Alabama Athletics Photo)
VESTAVIA HILLS, AL (October 10, 2017) - For the fifth time in six years Alabama has won the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate. The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide closed with a 3-under final round to finish 19-under and win the title by six-strokes. The victory was the second of the season for Alabama after they captured the Fighting Illini Invitational in their last outing.
No. 11 Auburn, the reigning champions, took second after a 13-under that left them at 13-under overall, No. T7 Baylor was third at 12-under, in a distant fourth it was No. 21 BYU at 1-over while in fifth it was No. 16 Arkansas at 2-over.
Playing on their home track, Old Overton Club, Alabama was led by a trio of players in the top-10.
Lee Hodges was the low member of the Crimson Tide line up posting a 9-under 54-hole tally to finish in third place and one shot out of a tie for first.
Hodges, a senior, played a solid final round carding a 1-under 69 that included four birdies and three-bogeys. The transfer from UAB had a chance to finish atop the medalist race but he was hurt by consecutive bogeys on Nos. 12-14. Coupled with a tied for ninth showing at the Carpet Capital Collegiate to begin the season, Hodges has recorded two top-10 finishes in three events this year.
Also finishing inside the top-10 this week for Alabama were Davis Riley (6th; -6) and Davis Shore (T9; -3).
The medalist race ended up coming down to the wire with 36-hole leader Mason Overstreet of Arkansas and UNLV's Shintaro Ban sharing the title at 10-under.
Overstreet began the day one ahead after consecutive 5-under 65's on Monday before he completed play with an even-par 70. The round included three birdies and three bogeys. Overstreet held the lead late at 11-under but he had to settle for a tie after a bogey on the 17th hole.
Just a sophomore, Overstreet is coming off a season that saw him finish as the runner-up in the individual portion of the NCAA Championship. In his last six starts Overstreet hasn't finished worse then 20th while five-times finishing sixth or better.
While Overstreet started the day at the top of the leaderboard it was Ban who came roaring from behind. Seven back at the start of the round Ban birdied his first three holes to jump start his day and reach 5-under. Ban did cool for a stretch but needing to make up ground in a hurry the UNLV senior played the second nine in 4-under 31. Despite a bogey on the 14th, Ban was able to charge into a share of the title with three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th.
Behind Hodges in third came Matthew Perrine of Baylor in fourth at 8-under and defending medalist champion Kyle Mueller of Michigan in fifth at 7-under.
36-HOLE RECAP
No. 4 Alabama is 16-under after the 36-hole first day of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and they are one round away from winning their fifth tournament title in the last six years.
No. T7 Baylor is in a close second at 14-under, No. 21 BYU sits in third at 9-under, No. 16 Arkansas holds the fourth spot while defending champion No. 11 Auburn is fifth at level-par.
Arkansas moved into the top-three with an 11-under second round that was their third best round in program history.
With a third place finish and a win at the Fighting Illini Invitational in their last outing already under their belts the host Crimson Tide will look to close things out on Tuesday at the Old Overton Club.
On Monday Lee Hodges was the lead member of the Alabama lineup. Hodges carded rounds of 67-65 and he is in third place at 8-under. Also playing well for the Crimson Tide are Davis Shore (T7; -4), Davis Riley (T13; -2) and Steven Setterstrom (T13; -2).
Out in front in the medalist chase is Mason Overstreet of Arkansas. Sitting at 10-under Overstreet will carry a one shot lead into the final round over reigning individual winner Kyle Mueller of Michigan.
During play on day one, Overstreet fired matching 5-under 65's as he birdied six-times, eagled once and bogeyed three-times in each round. Overstreet was 6-under combined on the second nine and 4-under on the front side. He now has posted seven straight under-par rounds and 10 red figure tallies in his last 11 rounds played.
Just a sophomore, Overstreet is coming off a season that saw him finish as the runner-up in the individual portion of the NCAA Championships.
The top-five of the medalist standings is completed by Braden Bailey (Baylor) in fourth at 7-under while Matthew Perrine (Baylor); Peter Kuest (BYU) share fifth at 6-under.
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.
View Complete Tournament Information