BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Ave Maria Men's Golf team opened their spring season in the Peach State Monday and Tuesday, placing 11^th out of 17 teams in the Coastal Georgia Invitational. The Gyrenes had a really good opening round, cracking the top 10, but had some tough draws in the final two rounds to finish +48 which was just one stroke behind St. Thomas who finished 10^th.

As a team, the Gyrenes were just nine over in the first round, placing them eighth out of 17 through 18 holes. Ty Kaufman led the team, shooting a 71 for one under on the round. Kaufman was even in front nine and then birdied holes 11 and 12. A bogey on the 16^th hole was the lone blemish on the round. Matt Mullen was just one stroke behind him at an even 72. Mullen was tied for the most birdies in the round for the Gyrenes with three but also had three bogeys to keep him at even. Alex Veneziano had the most exciting hole of the round, hitting an eagle on a par five. Veneziano finished with a 75 and Benny Achziger rounded out the four submitted scores with a 79.

The second round got a little tougher for the Gyrenes, collectively shooting 14 over in the middle 18. Kaufman again led the group with a 73. The junior hit five birdies in the round, but also two bogeys and two double bogeys. Veneziano improved by four strokes in the second round, hitting 75. Joe Hamilton got on the scorecard for the first time in the second round, recording a 76. Mullen rounded out the group with a 78.

The final round was a tough one for the Gyrenes as a whole, shooting 25 over. Veneziano led the team with a 77, hitting three birdies. He was followed by Mullen at 77, Kaufman at 78 and Hamilton at 81. Hamilton closed the round strong with an eagle in his second to last hole on a par five.

At 11^th place, the Gyrenes were just one stroke behind St. Thomas and one stroke ahead of Georgia Military College. The Gyrenes finished ahead of one Sun Conference team, beating New College by 23 strokes. Keiser won the invitational shooting seven under par.

Kaufman had the best solo performance of the Gyrenes, shooting six over in the three rounds and finishing tied for 26^th out of 88 golfers.

The Gyrenes get two weeks off before returning back out to the links in Victoria, Texas, in the Claude Jacobs Invite, hosted by the University of Houston-Victoria. It is the first ever trip to the Lone Star State for the Ave Maria Golf team.