USCB golf team takes fourth in tournament

The USC Beaufort men's golf team had a strong showing at the 15th annual Webber Intercollegiate, finishing fourth in a field of 19 teams.

The Sand Sharks moved up two spots during Tuesday's final round after finishing Monday's first two rounds in a tie for sixth, but they couldn't catch the leaders. USCB finished with a 54-hole team score of 888, nine shots behind Brevard College and host Webber International.

The tournament was played at Lake Wales Country Club in Babson Park, Fla., which LeBaron said played difficult and did not play to his team's strengths. The Sand Sharks' biggest enemy, though, was their putting.

"Our problem this week was we couldn't get the putts to drop," LeBaron said. "We hit enough greens and enough fairways, but we just couldn't get that little white devil in the hole."

Reed Howard paced the Sand Sharks with a score of 219 to finish seventh, followed by Ryan Ruggiere at 221. George Thacker and John Pannone shot 224, and Chris Lane rounded out USCB's score at 237.

"It's good fuel for the fire for the team," LeBaron said. "Not that they really need it, but this will give us some motivation because they wanted to do really, really well here. I think we had a strong showing, and that's good for such a big tournament. We'll just putt better next time."

The Sand Sharks are back in action Oct. 20-21 at the Charleston Southern Fall Invitational at Crowfield Golf and Country Club in Goose Creek.

Scores from the 15th annual Webber Intercollegiate golf tournament, played Monday and Tuesday on the par-72 course at Lake Wales Country Club in Babson Park, Fla.

Top team scores: Webber International 879, Brevard College 879, Southeastern University 880, USC Beaufort 888.

USCB individual scores:

Reed Howard

75-72-72 -- 219

Ryan Ruggiere

74-73-74 -- 221

George Thacker

72-77-75 -- 224

John Pannone

75-73-76 -- 224

Chris Lane

78-81-78 -- 237