Spirit of America: Mahlik takes it

DECATUR, Ala. (July 7, 2013) -- Central Alabama's Alex Mahlik shot a 1-under 70 in Sunday's final round to secure a five-shot victory at the 2013 Spirit of America Championship at Burningtree Country Club. Mahlik took the lead thanks to rounds of 67-68 in the first two rounds of action. Chanat Sakuulpolphaisan of Mississippi State fired closing rounds of 68-69 to take runner-up while Matt Georgeot was third thanks to rounds of 68-71-72. Casey O'Toole, who shared the first-round lead with Mahlik, struggled with weekend rounds of 75-70 and finished tied for fourth place alongside Landon Lyons and Rory Doll. The Spirit of America Championship is an invitational concentrated on college players. The event features 72 holes of stroke play but rain shortened this year's event to 54 holes. Past winners of the event include Stewart Cink and Heath Slocum.