Rebel Golfers In Fourth At Gator Invitational

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Ole Miss men’s golf team fired rounds of 280 and 281 on the first day of the SunTrust Gator Invitational Saturday and stands in fourth place heading into the final round at the Par 70, 6,701-yard University Golf Course.

With their 561 the Rebels trail second-place Florida State (554) by seven shots and third-place UAB (556) by five. The host Gators blistered the course in the first round and lead the field with a 542.

Freshman Jonathan Randolph carded a 69-70—139 to lead the Rebels. Junior Jesse Speirs fired a 69-71—140, senior Kyle Ellis shot a 71-70—141, David Marino posted a 75-70—145, and freshman Chris Mullhaupt finished with a 71-79—150.

“We were a little nervous when we got off to a poor start,” head coach Ernest Ross said. “We played solid all day, but not great. My compliments to Kyle Ellis, who was three over after three holes in the second round and brought it back to even par. Jonathan Randolph played well to lead us. We believe we can play better and that we have more left in us.

“The course is playing great, and the weather is perfect. We are going out there tomorrow to try and move up and record a top finish in an elite field with so many ranked teams.”

Seven of the 14 teams in the field are ranked in the top 30. The Rebels, ranked No. 20 by Golfstat, will tee off Sunday morning beginning at 7:45 CT seeking their fifth consecutive top-five finish of the year. Ole Miss won its final three tournaments of the fall.

SUNTRUST GATOR INVITATIONAL –GAINESVILLE, Fla.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Florida   269-273--542  

2. Florida State            278-276--554  

3. UAB                       276-280--556  

4. OLE MISS                  280-281--561  

5. LSU                       283-279--562  

6. Mississippi State        288-275--563  

7. South Alabama            283-282--565  

T8. Wake Forest             288-278--566  

T8. Coastal Carolina         283-283--566  

10. Georgia Southern         287-282--569  

T11. Duke                    289-281--570  

T11. North Florida          284-286--570  

13. Georgia State            290-290--580  

14. South Florida            291-294--585  

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

T15. Jonathan Randolph      69-70—139                   

T21. Jesse Speirs            69-71—140

T27. Kyle Ellis              71-70—141

T49. David Marino            75-70—145

T66. Chris Mullhaupt  71-79—150