The Lee men's golf team celebrates after winning the Gulf South Conference championship on Tuesday afternoon in Tunica, Miss.
photo by Lee Sports Information
TUNICA, Miss. – After sleeping on the 36-hole lead the Lee men's golf team ran away with the unofficial Gulf South Conference Championship winning by full 10 strokes over the University of West Florida after Tuesday's final round at the Tunica National course.
Due to Lee's reclassification process into the GSC and NCAA Division II, the Argonauts will represent the GSC in the South Region tournament.
Overall North Alabama (882) finished third while Delta State (886) and Valdosta State (888) rounded out the top five. but the Flames staked their claim to the title by finishing atop the leaderboard. The win marks the fifth team title in 11 tournaments for the Flames during 2014-15 campaign.
"Just a high-level performance from our guys this week," noted coach John Maupin. "I could not be more proud of this team. Our goal was to come out today and play like we were tied and finish strong. Our guys answered the challenge. This is an incredibly strong conference. It means a great deal to our program to walk away from the field like we did with this win.
The Flames shot a 54-hole team total of 300-280-285 - 866. West Florida was second (876). North Alabama (882) finished third while Delta State (886) and Valdosta State (888) rounded out the top five.
Lee junior Peyton Sliger shared the tournament's medalist honors West Florida's Esteban Castro. Sliger fired a sizzling three-under par 69 in the final round to go along with earlier rounds of 74-72. It was the first individual title for the junior. Castro carded a 68 on Tuesdayto combine with his 75-72 on Monday. "I'm just really happy for Peyton," stressed Maupin. "He has worked very hard on his game. It is so gratifying to see him break through with a medalist finish."
The Flames had three players place in the top five. Shea Sylvester and Taylor Davis followed closely behind Sliger and fired identical rounds of 77-68-72 - 217 and tie for third place. Freshman Cory Sheppard followed with his three- round total of 74-73-76 - 223, good for a tie for 12th. Adam Wright rounded out the Flames scoring with a 10-over par 226. He had an even-par 72 on Tuesday. The future is bright as Maupin's squad returns four players who participated in the conference championship victory next season.