Preview: Golf tees off spring season in Daytona Beach

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Golf ball near green. Image Credit: Golfible

Jonathan Hanna, Golf Beat Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After a long and cold winter, the Robert Morris University golf team (+245) looks to get back on the course at the LPGA International for the Gary Freeman Spring Invitational on March 7 and 8.

Before the break, the Colonials wrapped up the fall stretch at the Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero, Florida. The team shot a +83, and was led by Max Palmer, who shot a +10 tournament, including two rounds of 76 to tie him for ninth place. Daniel Franco Saad had a final score of +21, and Chase Miller was seven shots behind him at a +28. In a tie for 45th was the pairing of David Szymanski and Bryce Gorrell. Both Szymanski and Gorrell shot tournaments of 32 over par.

The location for this week’s tournament is the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida. The LPGA International has two courses on it, Jones and Hills, named after Rees Jones and Arthur Hills, the respective designers. The Jones Course is a 7,008 yard par-72 that plays more of a links-style course, while the Hills Course 6,984 yard par-72 that is more narrow and harrowing. The LPGA International has hosted the NCAA Women’s Championship and the Symetra Tour Championship. For the Gary Freeman Spring Invitational, the Hills Course will be played both days.

Among the teams that will be there include the host Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (+92), St. Johns Red Storm, LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds and St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers.

Bethune-Cookman is led by Christian Hovstadius, who shot an even-par tournament at the Invitation at Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Georgia. Leading the Blackbirds is George Helsby, whose +5 tournament at the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational is lowest on the team.

For St. Johns, their low tournament of the year was six under, shot by Gerald Mackedon at the Doc Gimmler. Wrapping up the aforementioned teams, David Tottori shot an even-par tournament at the Matthews Auto Collegiate Invitational for St. John’s lowest tournament so far.