BUCCANEER INVITATIONAL PHOTOS BY ERIC PATRICK
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Barry University's No. 1-ranked men's golf team won the Buccaneer Invitational for the sixth time in seven years, and Bucs sophomore Adam Svensson captured his school-record sixth tournament victory of the season Tuesday.
The Buccaneers shot 21-under 831 in the three-round tournament at Normandy Shores Golf Club's par-71, 6,733-yard course in the 14-team, 82-player field. The Bucs, who matched the school record with their fifth tournament title of the season, shot 278 in Tuesday's final round to win by 22 strokes.
Svensson, who shot a course- and school-record 61 in Monday's second round, won the tournament at 13-under 200. He shot 1-under 70 in the final round. Playing as an individual, Barry sophomore Nico Cavero, a Doral, Fla., native, was the runner-up, shooting 7-under 206. He fired a 5-under 67 Tuesday. Saint Leo's Joey Savoie was third at 6-under 207.
"Adam shot a course record 61 and a school record as well, and we just kind of hung around behind him," senior Scott Smyers said after competing in his final Buccaneer Invitational. "We had four good scores every three rounds, and it was good."
Smyers and Berry Jole tied for sixth at 2-under 211. Smyers shot par in the final round, and Jole was 1-under. Bucs senior Jared Dalga tied for eighth at 1-under 212. He shot 3-under 68 in the final round. Freshman Mario Beltran tied for 24th at 217. He shot 1-under 70 in the final round.
Johnson & Wales (Fla.) finished second as a team at 853, and Nova Southeastern third at 857. Saint Leo was fourth, a stroke behind the Sharks, and Chico State fifth at 10-over 862.
Buccaneers freshman Patrick Murray and junior John Yu, playing as individuals, also tied for 24th. Murray shot 73 in Tuesday, and Yu a 77. Senior Marcelo Huarte tied for 44th at 222. He shot par in the final round, capping his final home tournament with an eagle on the 529-yard, par-5 18th. Freshman Eirik Groenhaug tied for 59th at 229 after shooting 72 in the final round. Both Huarte and Groenhaug were also playing as individuals.
Jole led the field with 16 birdies in the 54-hole event. Svensson was second with 15. He also had two eagles -- both in his record-breaking second round. Cavero had 11 birdies in the tournament. Murray tied Saint Leo's Ryan Gendron with a tournament-best 42 pars. Smyers had 38, and Cavero and Yu each had 37.
Svensson led the tournament in par-4 scoring at 5-under. Dalga tied with six others at 1-under on par-3 holes. Barry 3.03 average and 2-over on par 3s was tops in the tournament. The Buccaneers four eagles matched Chico State for the tournament best. The Bucs 57 birdies as a team led the field. Barry led the tournament in par-4 holes at 9-over with a 4.05 average score. The Bucs also led the tournament in par-5 scoring at 25-under with an average score of 4.44.
Svensson's personal-best 61 to set the course record put himself in lofty company. Some of golf's greatest names, including legends Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Peter Thomson have played Normandy Shores, but none of them went lower than Svensson's 61. The previous course record was 63.
Barry's second-round 270 tied the tournament and school record for low round.
The Buccaneers will compet in the Sunshine State Conference Championships April 14-15 at Lake Jovita Golf Club in Dade City, Fla.