Tigers roar back, finish fourth at AAC Championships

Tuesday, April 24

Palm Harbor, Fla.

University of Memphis

American Athletic Conference Championship

Borja Martin (left) -- with coach Blake Smart -- shot 3-over 216 during the AAC Championship to lead the Tigers.

Photo by: (Ben Solomon/American Athletic Conference)

Tigers roar back, finish fourth at AAC Championships

Apr 24, 2018 | Men's Golf

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Led by Vlasveld's 68, Memphis fires 2-under 282 to climb three spots

By: Phil Stukenborg

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Rodi Vlasveld shot a 3-under 68 – the best round of the final day – to lead the University of Memphis to a fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championship presented by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.

Behind Vlasveld, who was 5-under with three holes left to play, the Tigers climbed from seventh place entering the final round and were the biggest movers of the day. USF, ranked 21^st nationally, won its fourth straight league championship by 20 strokes over second-place SMU. USF finished at 10-under and the Bulls' Claudio Correa was the medalist with a 6-under 207.

USF earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament with the victory at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club. During its four-year run of AAC titles, the Bulls have led each of the 12 rounds played.

Had there been a category, Memphis would have claimed the comeback team of the tournament award. The Tigers opened with an 18-over 302, but clawed back with a second-round score of 287 and closed with a 2-under 282. Memphis finished at 19-over 871.

In addition to Vlasveld, the Tigers got 1-under 70s from Brad Bawden and Nick Giles. Bawden, a junior from Hockley, England, made the turn at even par and picked up a bogey at the par-4, 435-yard second hole (the Tigers started at No. 10). Bawden recovered quickly with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 to finish at 1-under.

Giles, who attended St. Benedict at Auburndale, was playing in his first tournament of the spring and his strong finish mirrored the team's. He opened with a 9-over 80 and shot 81 in the second round. After making the turn at 1-over, Giles birdied three consecutive holes to briefly get to 2-under.

Vlasveld, from the Netherlands, opened his final round with a birdie and added two more before making the turn. After the turn, birdied Nos. 4 and 6 to get to 5-under. Bogeys at Nos. 7 and 8 prevented Vlasveld from shooting the lowest round of his career.

Borja Martin, who shot even-par 71s on the first two days, finished with a 3-over 74. He made the turn at even par, but double-bogeyed the par-4, 465-yard sixth hole to fall to 2-over. Despite his struggles late in the round, Martin led all Tiger golfers by shooting 3-over 216 for the tournament to finish in a tie for 11^th. Vlasveld (218) and Bawden (218) tied for 15^th, Chase Harris (223) tied for 32^nd and Giles (231) finished in 47^th place.