PALM HARBOR, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's golf team continued to play a challenging fall schedule, playing with some of the best teams in the nation at The Invite in Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida. Ave Maria's top two players showed they can play with the nation's best, with both Alex Veneziano and Ty Kaufman placing in the top 15. However, the Gyrenes placed 20th in the field overall against a group of NAIA national championship contenders.
In Monday's first round, Ty Kaufman was one of the best golfers on the course, and was one of only eleven golfers to go under par in the first round. Kaufman led AMU's team score of 309 with a one-under 70. Alex Veneziano also played well in the opening round, shooting a two-over 73. Ave Maria's team score was rounded out by Joe Hamilton and Troy Nason, who both recorded scores of 83.
The second round was Ave Maria's best of the tournament, with the Gyrenes turning in a team score of 307. Kaufman again led the way, shooting a two-over 73. Veneziano was only shot behind, carding a 74. Hamilton trimmed four strokes off his score from the first round, carding a 79. The team score was completed by another improvement, as Nason dropped two strokes from his first round to post a score of 81.
Tuesday's final round belonged to Veneziano, who made a charge up the leaderboard. Veneziano was one of only three golfers to shoot under par on Tuesday, firing a one-under 70 to move into the top ten. Kaufman added a 75 to again aid the Gyrene team score. Hamilton was again third among Gyrenes with a 82, while Tony Haupt made his first appearance in the Gyrene team score with a final round score of 85.
Veneziano's under par round in the third allowed him to charge up the leaderboard, moving him from 23rd to ninth place with a 217. Kaufman was just one stroke behind, placing 14th overall with a score of 218. Hamilton was third among Gyrenes with a score of 244, while Nason recorded a score of 251. Ave Maria's efforts at Innisbrook were rounded out by Haupt, who finished the tournament with a 259.
The defending national champions from Dalton State emerged with the team title, erasing a five-shot deficit on the final day to win by seven strokes over No. 2 Keiser and upstart Campbellsville, who started the season ranked 21st in the nation. Campbellsville's run to challenge for the title was powered by individual medalist Kevin Latchayya, who was the only golfer in the field under par, shooting a two-under score of 211.
After three tournaments away from home, the Gyrenes will play on their home course for the fourth tournament of the fall season. Ave Maria will host the Gyrene Invitational for the second straight year at The National Golf Club in Ave Maria, with rounds scheduled for October 14 and October 15. The fall season will then conclude on October 28 and 29, when the Gyrene golfers tee off at the SEU Fire Invitational in Lakeland.
