Oct. 9, 2012
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Andy Seeley
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF junior Greg Eason started Tuesday's second and final round of the Jack Nicklaus Invitational at 2-under par and leading the tournament. Eason opened play Tuesday on fire and rode that momentum to the individual championship at the event, held at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
Eason started Tuesday's round on the back nine. He promptly recorded birdies on four of his first six holes, moving to six-under par. He turned in three more birdies in his final nine holes of play to go with three bogeys and one double bogey to finish the day with a 2-under par 70. His back-to-back scores of 70 left him 4-under for the tournament.
Greg Eason played two fantastic rounds of golf on one of America's best-conditioned and most challenging courses, UCF head coach Bryce Wallor said. His play spoke to the level of talent he possesses and it also shows the maturation of his skills over the past two-and-a-half seasons.
Eason was the only golfer in the field of 60 to finish the tournament under par.
While Eason maintained a spot at the top of the individual leaderboard for two rounds, the Knights were constantly climbing the team leaderboard Tuesday. UCF entered Tuesday's final round in 11th place of 11 teams. But after Monday's round of 317, the Knights cut 17 strokes off that score to turn in a 300 for the day and finish +41 for the tournament. That vaulted them all the way into fifth place for the tournament.
Our team fought hard to come from dead last to fifth today, Wallor said.
Leading the charge after Eason was Kyle Wilshire. The junior was 7-over in Monday's first round. But he charged back to turn in a 1-under score of 71 Tuesday. Wilshire finished the tournament tied for ninth place.
Kyle Wilshire played his finest round of golf today as a UCF Knight, Wallor said. Kyle exemplifies the qualities of determination and hard work. He is clearly the ideal role model for any student-athlete.
Jose Joia (+19) and Reid Martin (+21) rounded out the scoring for the Knights.
Team Leaders
1. Kent State 303-302=605 (+29)
2. Oklahoma State 295-313=608 (+32)
2. Vanderbilt 311-297=608 (+32)
4. Kentucky 302-307=609 (+33)
5. UCF 317-300=617 (+41)
UCF Golfers
1. Greg Eason 70-70=140 (-4)
T9. Kyle Wilshire 79-71=150 (+6)
T50. Jose Joia 83-80=163 (+19)
T53. Reid Martin 86-79=165 (+21)
55. Michael Visacki 85-82=167 (+23)