Penn State's Cole Miller
(Penn State Athletics Photo)
TALLAHASSEE, FL (March 12, 2017) -- With Cole Miller leading the way Penn State has won the Seminole Intercollegiate. In a nip and tuck final day at Southwood Golf Course the Nittany Lions turned in a 5-under team tally to finish the week 31-under and three shots in front of Georgia Tech and Florida State, both whom were 28-under. Behind them came James Madison at 17-under in fourth and fifth place Troy at 16-under.
Penn State junior Cole Miller began the day tied for the individual lead before shooing a Sunday 4-under 68 to post 15-under and take the title by two shots over Harris Ellis of Florida State.
For Miller, who birdied four-times and bogeyed twice during the final round, the deciding stroke came in the form of an eagle on the par-5 16th. Following the eagle Miller completed his victory march with a pair of pars.
The Nittany Lions were also helped this weekend by Charles Huntzinger (TT12; -7) and Ryan Dornes (T27; -2).
For Penn State their 31-under-par showing was the lowest team total since the Seminole Intercollegiate moved to Southwood Golf Course in 2010. The 833 tally was also the second lowest team score in program history following their 820 score in the 2002 JMU Invitational.
The top-five of the medalist standings was rounded out by Ellis at 13-under in second, Georgia Tech's Luke Schniederjans was 11-under in third, West Virginia's Alan Cooke was 10-under in fourth while three others shared fifth at 9-under.
-Penn State Athletics contributed to this story
ROUND TWO RECAP
Penn State turned in an 11-under second round and with a 26-under tally for the tournament they are the Seminole Intercollegiate leaders by two. Host Florida State will begin the final round at Southwood Golf Course 24-under and in second place, Georgia Tech is in third place at 20-under, Troy is a distant fourth at 15-under while West Virginia is fifth at 13-under.
The big lift for Penn State this week has come from co-medalist leader Cole Miller. Sitting at 11-under, Miller has put together rounds of 66-67, with his second round including four birdies, an eagle and a bogey. The eagle came on the par-5 1st hole.
Also playing well for Penn State are Charles Huntzinger (T10; -5) and Ryan Davis (T19; -3).
Sharing the medalist lead with Miller is Florida State's Harry Ellis. With rounds of 67-66 Ellis has reached the lead.
During a flawless second round Ellis birdied the 1st and 11th holes before closing his day eagle-birdie-birdie.
Five players will begin the final round in a tie for third at 7-under.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Day one of the Seminole Intercollegiate is in the books and the leaderboard is a crowded one. Presently Penn State at 15-under is leading the way at Southwood Golf Course but three other teams are within four-strokes of the lead.
One shot back in second place is host Florida State at 14-under, Georgia Tech at 12-under is in third, the 11-under West Virginia Mountaineers are in fourth and Jacksonville at 7-under is in fifth. Overall 10 teams turned in under-par tallies on Friday.
Penn State was led to the lead by Cole Miller who after a 6-under 66 is tied for the individual lead with Luke Schniederjans of Georgia Tech and Zach Seabolt of Winthrop.
Miller, the 2016 Pennsylvania Amateur winner, teed off on the 1st hole and despite an eagle on the par-5 4th turned in even-par 36. On the back nine Miller found a different gear playing the back nine in a flawless 6-under 30. During the second nine Miller poured in four birdies and a second eagle on the par-5 16th.
Two other Nittany Lion golfers turned in top-15 performances on Friday, with Christian Elliott shooting a 4-under 68 to share eighth while Ryan Davis at 3-under is tied for 12th.
Schniederjans, looking for his third medalist title of the season and second straight, reached 6-under with seven birdies and only one bogey. The birdies for Schniederjans came on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th 11th, 16th and 18th holes.
The third member of the lead trio, Zach Seabolt, and he played a bogey-free round of golf with three birdies on each side.
Behind the leading trio is a group sharing fourth at 5-under. That group includes David Wicks (Jacksonville), Harry Ellis (Florida State), Jared Bettcher (Troy) and Alister Balcombe (VCU). On a day where 38 player turned in subpar rounds four others are tied for eighth at 4-under.
ABOUT THE Seminole Intercollegiate
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
Florida State University. Team (best four scores out
of
five players) and individual competitions.
View Complete Tournament Information