MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Barry University won the Buccaneer Invitational presented by Carrabba's Italian Grill Tuesday, beating Laval by four strokes. It marks the fifth straight year the host Bucs have won the tournament at Normandy Shores Golf Club.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Buccaneers captured their second straight tournament title with a final-round 279 to finish the tournament at 11-under 841. Laval, based out of Quebec City in Canada, finished second at 7-under 845 after closing the 54-hole, 14-team tournament with a 283.
Nova Southeastern was third, a stroke behind Laval in a tournament that featured the NCAA Division II's top four-ranked teams and six of the Top 25.
Nova's Oscar Lengden won a three-player playoff hole with a birdie. Teammate Ricardo Celia, who shot 64 today, and Lynn's Marcelo Rozo tied for second. Both were also in the playoff. Lengden and his playoff partners shot 7-under 206 over the three rounds. Lengden sank a tournament-best 17 birdie putts.
Barry's Scott Smyers closed the tournament with a 3-under 68 to finish tied for fourth. After bogeying the par-3, 240-yard 17th, Smyers fired back with an eagle on the par-5 18th to close the tournament on a high note.
"It was a solid way to finish," Smyers said. "It was a good bounce back (from 17). I thought we may have needed it to be in it."
Smyers, who was 5-under on par-4 scoring holes, had one of the Buccaneers' three eagles in the tournament. He also ripped off 14 birdies in the three rounds. Barry led the field with 50 birdies as a team over the two-day event. The Buccaneers also had 173 pars, which finished three short of Lynn's tournament-leading 176.
Barry teammate Marcelo Huarte also tied for fourth after shooting par 71 in the third round. He opened the tournament with a 65 on the 6,805-yard course. Huarte eagled the par-4, 325-yard 12th in the opening round.
"It felt so great," said Huarte, a Miami native.
Lynn and Cal State Stanislaus tied for fourth at 851.
Barry's Simon Forsslund tied for 18th after closing the tournament with an even par in the third round. He shot 2-over 215 in the tournament. Marcus Segerstrom tied for 22nd after shooting 2-under 69 in Tuesday's final round. He finished at 3-over 216. All-American Danny Stapff finished with a par to close the tournament. The Buccaneers' career leader for victories with four, tied for 26th at 217.
Barry's Berry Jole, competing as an individual, also shot 217 to fall into the tie for 26th.
Laval is not recognized by GolfStat because it is not an NCAA member.
Barry will compete in the Sunshine State Conference Championships April 16-17 in Bradenton, Fla.