Florida State University Athletics
Savage Leads Seminole Men’s Golf Team Through First Round Of PING / GolfWeek Preview
9/28/2008 12:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
Sept. 28, 2008
TOLEDO, Ohio –
Florida State University senior Matt Savage shot a one-over par 72 and is in a tie for 18th place in the individual standings after the first round of the PING / GolfWeek Preview at the Inverness Club. The Seminoles are in a tie for 12th place after the first round of the event which gives teams expected to play in the 2009 NCAA Championship an opportunity to play the course where the championship will be held. One of the premier tournaments in men’s collegiate golf, the Preview features eight teams ranked in the top-10 of GolfWeek’s preseason poll (including No. 8 Florida State) and 14 teams ranked in the top 25.
The Seminoles counted a 72 by Savage, a 75 by junior Seath Lauer and scores of 76 by freshmen Wesley Graham and Brooks Koepka. Surprisingly, the only score the Seminoles did not count was a 76 by sophomore Drew Kittleson.
Oklahoma State, which has three players in the top eight of the individual standings, is in first place in the team standings. The Cowboys hold a two stroke lead over Tennessee. Jamie Lovemark of Southern California is the individual leader. He finished the first round with a five under par score of 66.
“I expect our guys to be prepared to compete from the first tee shot each day,” said Head Coach Trey Jones. “While I am discouraged by our slow start in this event, I am more interested in their mindset from shot to shot and round to round. The top 14 teams in the country are here playing an extremely difficult golf course. To play well you have to be committed to every shot, accept the outcome and immediately move on the next shot. Our players will be better golfers after this experience. I really believe this is going to be a very good team, either way tomorrow will be another step to becoming that team.”
Savage (Louisville, Ky.) led the Seminoles through the first round of the event with his score of 72. He began the round slowly and was four strokes over par after his first seven holes. Savage then grew comfortable with the course and played his final 11 holes of the afternoon at three under par with four birdies and only one bogey. He carded a par or better on 14 of his 18 holes in the first round.
Lauer (Huntington, Ind.) finished as Florida State’s second ranked golfer with a four-over par score of 75. It also took Lauer some time to get used to the course as he was five-over par after his first eight holes of the afternoon. Lauer found his groove and began to play well with a birdie on his ninth hole and an even par score over his final nine holes of the afternoon. He earned three pars and three birdies on his back nine.
Graham (Port Orange, Fla.) and Koepka (Wellington, Fla.) carded identical scores of five-over par 76. Playing in the first event of his collegiate career, Graham was even after his first four holes and carded three birdies and eight holes of par in his first collegiate round. Koepka, who is playing in his second career event as a Seminole, birdied his first two holes and finished the round with three birdies.
The second of three rounds will be played Monday with the event coming to a completion on Tuesday.
PING / GolfWeek Preview/Sept. 28-30, 2008/Par 71 The Inverness Club/Toledo, Ohio/First Round FSU Results T12/15. Florida State 296 T18. Matt Savage 72 T34. Seath Lauer 75 T44. Wesley Graham 76 T44. Brooks Koepka 76 T56 Drew Kittleson 77
PING / GolfWeek Preview/Sept. 28-30, 2008/Par 71 The Inverness Club/Toledo, Ohio/First Round Team Results 1. Oklahoma St. 282 T9. Texas A&M 296 2. Tennessee 284 T9. Georgia Tech 296 3. Southern Cal. 286 T9. Charlotte 296 4. Georgia 290 T12. Florida State 299 5. Florida 291 T12. Kent State 299 6. Arizona State 292 T12. Chattanooga 299 T7. Alabama 294 15. Toledo 314 T7. Clemson 294