LAKELAND â€" Florida Southern’s comeback was one for the ages, but Georgia College did the Moccasins one stroke better. Both teams trailed Barry by double digits after Monday’s first round, and both teams overtook the Buccaneers on Tuesday; but the Bobcats edged the Moccasins by one stroke to win 2010 Matlock Collegiate Classic.
At the end of Monday’s first round, Barry held a 10-stroke lead over second-place West Florida and a 12-stroke lead over third-place Georgia College. The top-ranked Buccaneers were 16 strokes ahead of 10th-ranked Florida Southern, which was tied for seventh. By the end of round two, which was spread over two days due to weather, the Bucs’ lead was down to five over the Moccasins and eight over the Bobcats of Georgia College (ranked #3).
Barry’s second round score of 292 was the first time this season the Buccaneers had a round over par, and things got worse shortly after 10:00 when round three began. The Bucs finished that one with a 296, and individual leader Victor Billskoog, who had tied the tournament scoring record with a seven-under 65 on Monday, wasn’t even among their counters. His final round 78 got thrown out of the team score, but the Bucs still had to count a 76 and two 74’s in addition to Guillermo Pumarol’s 72.
Meanwhile, Florida Southern had already closed the gap by wrapping up round two with a seven-under par 281 that featured a trio of 70’s from Jude Eustaquio, Matt Stauch and Shelton Smith. Redshirt freshman Peter Creighton was the Mocs’ fourth counter with a career-best 71. All of that pushed the Moccasins past five other teams, got them into second place, and put them three strokes ahead of Georgia College.
By the time the third round was halfway complete, Barry’s lead was gone, as Danny Evelyn made the turn at three-under, Stauch and Eustaquio were each one-under, and Smith was two-over. Barry’s four counters were a combined six-over, a nine-stroke swing that held up the rest of the afternoon.
However, the Moccasins weren’t the only team hitting their stride. Joe Young had given Georgia College a big lift in round two with a 67, but in round three, his 72 was actually the worst score the Bobcats counted. Francisco Bide and Niclas Johansson each shot a 71, and Billy Shida shot a 70 to give the Bobcats a final round 284. Shida’s score included seven birdies, two of which came on his final two holes. That allowed the Bobcats to slip ahead of Florida Southern at the very end in one of the closest Matlock Tournaments ever played.
The last time the Matlock was decided by one stroke was in 2003, when Tulsa beat UNC-Wilmington by one and Miami (OH) by two. The comeback by Georgia College was also the second largest in tournament history, topped only by North Florida in 1998, which erased a 17-stroke lead by Augusta State after the first round, and a 10-stroke lead after two.
Florida Southern has won its own tournament three times since 2005, and five times since 2000, but it was the first time the Moccasins were ever the Matlock runner-up. Their final score of even par 864 was their best in the Matlock since 1995, when they won the tournament with a 21-under score of 843.
Georgia College also had the tournament’s individual winner in Young, who had scores of 71, 67 and 72 for a six-under par 210. That was one stroke better than J.D. Guiney of Rollins, who made a serious run with a final round 69 that included seven birdies. West Florida’s Blake Olson was third with a 212, with Eustaquio and Stauch from Florida Southern in fourth and fifth respectively.
Stauch was actually tied for fifth with Barry’s Victor Billskoog, who opened the tournament with a 65 and still held the lead with after a second-round score of 71, but closed with a 78. Billskoog was the fourth player since the tournament began to shoot a 65 in the opening round, but none of those four have gone on to win it.
The tournament featured nine teams ranked in the Golf Digest Division II national rankings.
Florida Southern’s next action will be March 5-7, at the University of South Florida Invitational.
 FINAL RESULTS          Matlock Collegiate Classic  Â
                        Lone Palm Golf Club     Lakeland, FL Â
                        Dates: 02/14 - 02/16    (Today:02-16-2010)
                                  Par:       72              Â
                                  Yardage: 7065              Â
     Fin.  School                  ScoresÂ
        1  Georgia College         291 288 284   863       -1
        2  Florida Southern Col    295 281 288   864        E
        3  Barry University        279 292 296   867       +3
        4  West Florida, U. of     289 295 300   884      +20
        5  Florida Inst of Tech    293 295 297   885      +21
        6  Nova Southeastern U.    300 292 295   887      +23
        7  St. Leo University      301 291 300   892      +28
        8  Lynn University         294 307 295   896      +32
        9  Rollins College         295 297 306   898      +34
       10  Newberry College        308 295 304   907      +43
       11  Columbus State          307 303 300   910      +46
       12  Valdosta St. U.         311 295 308   914      +50
       13  Delta State U.          294 313 309   916      +52
       14  Clayton State Univ.     299 304 315   918      +54
       15  Eckerd College          313 308 312   933      +69
  Fin.  Name                  School      ScoresÂ
     1  Joe Young             GA College   71  67  72   210  -6
     2  J.D. Guiney           Rollins      70  72  69   211  -5
     3  Blake Olson           W. Florida   69  72  71   212  -4
     4  Jude Eustaquio        Fl. South    72  70  71   213  -3
     5  Matt Stauch           Fl. South    74  70  70   214  -2
         Victor Billskoog      Barry U.     65  71  78   214  -2
     7  Billy Shida           GA College   73  74  70   217  +1
         Daniel Stapff         Barry U.     72  71  74   217  +1
     9  Francisco Bide        GA College   71  76  71   218  +2
    10  Carlos Velez          Barry U.     70  75  74   219  +3
         Niclas Johansson      GA College   76  72  71   219  +3
         Guillermo Pumarol     Barry U.     72  75  72   219  +3
    13  Wade Binfield         Clayton St   73  75  72   220  +4
         Zach Potter           FL Tech      69  72  79   220  +4
    15  Danny Evelyn          Fl. South    71  80  70   221  +5
         Daniel Stanley        Newberry     74  72  75   221  +5
         Byron White           Nova SE      73  70  78   221  +5
    18  Steven Brame          Lynn U.      75  71  76   222  +6
         Robert Schmidt        FL Tech      76  72  74   222  +6
         Patrick Sheedy        FL Tech      74  74  74   222  +6
    21  Bobby Bode            Nova SE      73  75  75   223  +7
         David Rose            Lynn U.      69  78  76   223  +7
         Nick Brothers         St. Leo      75  74  74   223  +7
    24  Ben Vertz             Nova SE      76  73  75   224  +8
         Chris Carlin          Barry U.     73  75  76   224  +8
         Chase Smith           Delta St.    70  77  77   224  +8
    27  Stephen Swanepoel     CSU          77  72  76   225  +9
         Chesley Gunn          ValdostaSt   76  72  77   225  +9
         Patricio Salem        Lynn U.      78  79  68   225  +9
         Colin Flabbi          FL Tech      75  77  73   225  +9
         Shelton Smith         Fl. South    78  70  77   225  +9
         JP Albuquerque        St. Leo      77  73  75   225  +9
         Chandler Gruenmeier   Newberry     77  73  75   225  +9
         Robbie Van Riper      W. Florida   74  74  77   225  +9
         Jack Bartlett         Nova SE      78  76  71   225  +9
    36  Mark McGuire          St. Leo      79  70  77   226 +10
         Peter Kolosvary       Nova SE      78  74  74   226 +10
         Steven Paine          CSU          73  77  76   226 +10
    39  Ryan Black            W. Florida   72  80  75   227 +11
         Neil Thomas           Clayton St   71  75  81   227 +11
         Tom Lynn              St. Leo      73  74  80   227 +11
         Peter Creighton       Fl. South    79  71  77   227 +11
    43  Taylor Smith          GA College   79  75  74   228 +12
    44  Colin Dolph           Rollins      80  74  75   229 +13
         Andres Thielen        FL Tech      75  78  76   229 +13
    46  Cole Cisbani          St. Leo      76  80  74   230 +14
         Justin Grice          CSU          78  77  75   230 +14
         Seth McBrayer         Delta St.    71  82  77   230 +14
         Matthew Campbell      Newberry     79  73  78   230 +14
         Michael Hicks         CSU          80  77  73   230 +14
         Otto Bonning          W. Florida   74  74  82   230 +14
         Hunter Stone          Rollins      74  75  81   230 +14
    53  Chad Smith            ValdostaSt   81  74  76   231 +15
         Matthew Killen        Newberry     78  77  76   231 +15
         Clarke Hendrick       ValdostaSt   79  75  77   231 +15
    56  Callum Georgallides   Eckerd       77  77  78   232 +16
         Devin Kay             Lynn U.      74  79  79   232 +16
    58  Fredrik Hildebrand    ValdostaSt   81  74  78   233 +17
         Austin Smithers       Delta St.    78  76  79   233 +17
         Taylor Johnson        Lynn U.      76  82  75   233 +17
         Ryan Cuitino          Eckerd       79  75  79   233 +17
         Paul Henderson        Eckerd       80  77  76   233 +17
    63  Jordan Lewis          Rollins      77  76  81   234 +18
         Adam Novakowski       Clayton St   78  76  80   234 +18
         James McDonough       Rollins      74  76  84   234 +18
         Carlos Rodriguez      W. Florida   82  75  77   234 +18
    67  Will Repko            ValdostaSt   75  78  82   235 +19
    68  Jordan Breaux         Delta St.    75  85  76   236 +20
    69  C. J. Denmark         Eckerd       77  82  79   238 +22
    70  Collin McCrary        Delta St.    78  78  83   239 +23
    71  Ben Kishigian         CSU          79  80  82   241 +25
    72  Sean Collard          Newberry     81  81  82   244 +28
         Clark Nelson          Clayton St   77  85  82   244 +28
    74  Luca Bell             Eckerd       82  79  89   250 +34
         Josh Ransby           Clayton St   85  78  87   250 +34
     Fin.  School                  ScoresÂ
        1  Georgia College         291 288 284   863
        1   Joe Young               71  67  72   210
     T 7   Billy Shida             73  74  70   217
        9   Francisco Bide          71  76  71   218
     T 10   Niclas Johansson        76  72  71   219
       43   Taylor Smith            79  75  74   228
        2  Florida Southern Col    295 281 288   864
        4   Jude Eustaquio          72  70  71   213
     T 5   Matt Stauch             74  70  70   214
     T 15   Danny Evelyn            71  80  70   221
     T 27   Shelton Smith           78  70  77   225
     T 39   Peter Creighton         79  71  77   227
        3  Barry University        279 292 296   867
     T 5   Victor Billskoog        65  71  78   214
     T 7   Daniel Stapff           72  71  74   217
     T 10   Carlos Velez            70  75  74   219
     T 10   Guillermo Pumarol       72  75  72   219
     T 24   Chris Carlin            73  75  76   224
        4  West Florida, U. of     289 295 300   884
        3   Blake Olson             69  72  71   212
     T 27   Robbie Van Riper        74  74  77   225
     T 39   Ryan Black              72  80  75   227
     T 46   Otto Bonning            74  74  82   230
     T 63   Carlos Rodriguez        82  75  77   234
        5  Florida Inst of Tech    293 295 297   885
     T 13   Zach Potter             69  72  79   220
     T 18   Robert Schmidt          76  72  74   222
     T 18   Patrick Sheedy          74  74  74   222
     T 27   Colin Flabbi            75  77  73   225
     T 44   Andres Thielen          75  78  76   229
        6  Nova Southeastern U.    300 292 295   887
     T 15   Byron White             73  70  78   221
     T 21   Bobby Bode              73  75  75   223
     T 24   Ben Vertz               76  73  75   224
     T 27   Jack Bartlett           78  76  71   225
     T 36   Peter Kolosvary         78  74  74   226
        7  St. Leo University      301 291 300   892
     T 21   Nick Brothers           75  74  74   223
     T 27   JP Albuquerque          77  73  75   225
     T 36   Mark McGuire            79  70  77   226
     T 39   Tom Lynn                73  74  80   227
     T 46   Cole Cisbani            76  80  74   230
        8  Lynn University         294 307 295   896
     T 18   Steven Brame            75  71  76   222
     T 21   David Rose              69  78  76   223
     T 27   Patricio Salem          78  79  68   225
     T 56   Devin Kay               74  79  79   232
     T 58   Taylor Johnson          76  82  75   233
        9  Rollins College         295 297 306   898
        2   J.D. Guiney             70  72  69   211
     T 44   Colin Dolph             80  74  75   229
     T 46   Hunter Stone            74  75  81   230
     T 63   Jordan Lewis            77  76  81   234
     T 63   James McDonough         74  76  84   234
       10  Newberry College        308 295 304   907
     T 15   Daniel Stanley          74  72  75   221
     T 27   Chandler Gruenmeier     77  73  75   225
     T 46   Matthew Campbell        79  73  78   230
     T 53   Matthew Killen          78  77  76   231
     T 72   Sean Collard            81  81  82   244
       11  Columbus State          307 303 300   910
     T 27   Stephen Swanepoel       77  72  76   225
     T 36   Steven Paine            73  77  76   226
     T 46   Justin Grice            78  77  75   230
     T 46   Michael Hicks           80  77  73   230
       71   Ben Kishigian           79  80  82   241
       12  Valdosta St. U.         311 295 308   914
     T 27   Chesley Gunn            76  72  77   225
     T 53   Chad Smith              81  74  76   231
     T 53   Clarke Hendrick         79  75  77   231
     T 58   Fredrik Hildebrand      81  74  78   233
       67   Will Repko              75  78  82   235
       13  Delta State U.          294 313 309   916
     T 24   Chase Smith             70  77  77   224
     T 46   Seth McBrayer           71  82  77   230
     T 58   Austin Smithers         78  76  79   233
       68   Jordan Breaux           75  85  76   236
       70   Collin McCrary          78  78  83   239
       14  Clayton State Univ.     299 304 315   918
     T 13   Wade Binfield           73  75  72   220
     T 39   Neil Thomas             71  75  81   227
     T 63   Adam Novakowski         78  76  80   234
     T 72   Clark Nelson            77  85  82   244
     T 74   Josh Ransby             85  78  87   250
       15  Eckerd College          313 308 312   933
     T 56   Callum Georgallides     77  77  78   232
     T 58   Ryan Cuitino            79  75  79   233
     T 58   Paul Henderson          80  77  76   233
       69   C. J. Denmark           77  82  79   238
     T 74   Luca Bell               82  79  89   250
