The Lee University men’s golf team placed third in the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Georgia College and played on the Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee course. The University of North Georgia won the team championship with a 54-hole total of 841. The University of West Florida finished second (843) and the Flames battled for the third-place spot (849). The University of South Carolina–Aiken (853) was fourth and Columbus State (858) rounded out the top five finishers.
Lee got off to a slow start in the first round but battled back in rounds two and three.
Bennett McNabb and Mitchell Strickland were the leaders for the Flames. After starting with a 3-over par 73 on the par 70 layout, McNabb came back with an ever-par round (70) and then a 1-under 69 to finish with a 212 and a tie for 13th. Strickland also had a slow start (76) but improved drastically with a 69 and finished with a 67 for a 212. He also tied McNabb for 13th place.
George Cordall was consistent through all three rounds 71-73-71 – 215 and a tied for 21st. Luke Stock also played consistently. His rounds featured 72-72-73 – 217 and placed him in a tie for 24th. Drew Zielinski did not play his best golf. He struggled out of the gate with a 76 but bounced back with a 69 before finishing with a 74 (219) and settling for a tie for 31st.
The Flames will take some time away from tournament play and sharpen up before returning to action on April 7-8 and traveling to Pensacola, Fla. to take part in the annual Argonaut Invitational.