BOCA RATON â€" Nova Southeastern edged Barry by just one stroke to win the Sunshine State Conference men’s golf title Tuesday, but the battle between their top players went even further. While the Sharks won their fourth team title in the last seven years, Barry's Daniel Stapff won a 2-hole playoff against Nova's Ricardo Celia for the individual title. Florida Southern, meanwhile, finished sixth, with Tim Crouch the team’s top finisher in 13th place.
The Sharks began the day holding a one-stroke lead over the Buccaneers, and though it went back-and-forth throughout the final round, the day eventually came to an end with the Sharks still up by only one. It was a strangely similar finish to the 2009 SSC Tournament, when Nova also carried a one-stroke lead over Barry into the final round, held on to win by five, and then saw one of its own battle in a playoff for tournament medalist.
This year, it was Celia, who shot a smoking 67 in round two on Monday to open up a two-shot lead over Stapff. On Tuesday, Celia shot a 76, while Stapff shot a 74, and with the two contenders playing in the same group, it created quite a finish. Celia had lost the lead with a double bogey on 14, and was still down by one stroke on the final hole. Celia ended up with a birdie on 18, however, re-gaining a share of the lead and forcing a playoff; but it was Stapff who won it in dramatic fashion with an eagle putt on the second playoff hole.
It marked the third time in the last four years the SSC individual champion was decided in a playoff, with Nova’s Greg O’Mahony winning the previous two in 2008, and 2009.
Both Celia and Stapff were at one-under par 215 for the tournament, two strokes better than Lynn’s Daniel Young, who finished third in the field of 45.
Nova led after each round, but the lead was never more than two shots. Celia’s 76 on Tuesday was actually the fourth score they counted, with first-round leader Bobby Bode shooting a 72, and Jack Bartlett and Ben Vertz each shooting a 74. Barry’s worst counter was a 75, one stroke better than Celia’s score, but the Bucs had no one reach par, with Chris Carlin’s 73 their best score of the day.
Lynn finished in third place, seven strokes behind Nova Southeastern, followed by Florida Tech (18 strokes behind) and Saint Leo (23 strokes behind).
Florida Southern started the day and sixth, but despite out-shooting Florida Tech and Saint Leo, the Moccasins were unable to make up ground in the standings. The Mocs had a team score of 302, giving them an 899 for the tournament, 26 strokes behind Nova. Rollins and Tampa were tied for seventh, eight strokes behind the Moccasins, and Eckerd was ninth, 12 strokes behind the Mocs.
Shane Convery and Shelton Smith led Florida Southern on Tuesday with scores of three-over par 75, and Crouch and Jude Eustaquio each had a 76. Crouch ended up holding on to his lead within the Moccasins’ team standings to finish in a tie for 13th place at 223 (+7). Convery (224) and Eustaquio (225) were right behind him in 16th and 19th place ties.
Smith was tied for 26th with a 227, and was one of the tournament’s big movers on Tuesday, up eight spots from his position at the end of the second round. Peter Creighton was 44th with a 243.
Florida Southern will now await word on a regional bid to be announced by the NCAA on Friday, April 22. Ten teams from South Region will be selected, along with four additional individuals.
