Mistretta Punches Ticket to National Championship;#14 Mocs Tie for 6th at the Regional

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Redshirt sophomore Tyler Mistretta qualified for the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship May 21-23 after placing third at the South/Southeast Regional at the Chattahoochee Golf Club Saturday. No. 14 Florida Southern tied for sixth, missing out on qualifying as a team by one stroke.
 
 
Tyler Mistretta, a native of North Palm Beach, Fla., shot an even-par 72 over his final 18 to stay in the top three golfers. He finished third at six-under 210 for the 54-hole event and punched his ticket to Orange County National in Winter Garden, Fla. Mistretta was sitting one over with three holes to play and birdied the 16^th par-5 to get to even and finished out with back-to-back par's. He was tied for second in the field of 108 players in total pars with 38 and tied for sixth with 11 birdies.
 
He is one of two individuals who advance after qualifying as the top two individuals on non-advancing teams, joining Sunshine State Conference foe Joseba Torres of Nova Southeastern. 
 
Florida Southern carded a final round13-over 301, dropping to tie for sixth, and finished just outside the cut to advance as a team. The Moccasins finished tied at 875 (+11) with Nova Southeastern, a stroke outside Wingate in fifth place (874). No. 1 University of North Georgia captured the regional title with a score of 855 (-9) and advanced alongside Coker, Lee, West Florida, and Wingate.
 
Adam Alvarez finished top 35 at the regional with a 221 (+5) total after a final round 76 (+4). Colton Swartz, playing in his first regional, finished a stroke off Alvarez with a 222 (+6), carding a final round 77 (+5).
 
Max Barile and Clay Tucker rounded out the Moccasins in the field. Barile was battling and shaved a stroke over the final 18 but finished tied for 54^th, just two strokes off Swartz at 224 (+8). Tucker finished the event with a 230 (+14) after a final round 80 (+8).
 
As a team, the Mocs made 167 pars and 40 birdies. Behind Mistretta's team-best marks of 38 and 11 (pars/birdies), Barile was second in pars with 34, edging out Tucker's 33 and Swartz's 32. Alvarez finished with 30 pars but was second in total birdies with 10 on the weekend. Swartz made eight birdies ahead of Barile's seven and Tucker's four.
 
The Moccasins conclude the season as a team after winning four tournament titles over the 12 events this season. Tyler Mistretta will now prepare to represent the Moccasins at the national championship and go for individual national title 29 for the department and 11th for the program.

T6 - #14 Florida Southern 282-292-301 - 875 (+11)
3 - Tyler Mistretta – 68-70-72 - 210 (-6)
T32 - Adam Alvarez – 71-74-76 - 221 (+5)
T40 - Colton Swartz – 72-73-77 - 222 (+6)
T54 - Max Barile – 71-77-76 - 224 (+8)
T92 - Clay Tucker – 75-75-80 - 230 (+14)