New College of Florida Men's Golf concluded its fall schedule with a fourth-place finish among 12 teams at the Southeastern University Invitational at Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland.
The Mighty Banyans finished ahead of three nationally ranked opponents, placing 10 strokes ahead of No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan, 10 strokes ahead of No. 15 Webber International and 16 strokes ahead of No. 22 Southeastern.
NCF improved during each round of the tournament, following an opening-round 301 with a 290 in the second round and a 1-under 287 in the final round. The Mighty Banyans climbed two positions Tuesday and finished at 14-over with a three-round team score of 878.
Sean O'Reilly led NCF by placing second in the 68-player field. O'Reilly finished at 4-under with a program-record 54-hole score of 212.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
O'REILLY MAKES PROGRAM HISTORY: O'Reilly opened with a 1-under 71 before carding a 73 in the second round. He fired a 4-under 68 in the final round to climb five positions and finish second at 4-under. His three-round total of 212 marked the best 54-hole tournament score in program history.
WATKINS EARNS TOP-15 FINISH: Tripp Watkins rebounded from an opening-round 78 by recording consecutive rounds of 1-under 71. Watkins climbed 10 positions during the final round to tie for 14th at 4-over with a total of 220.
TORRES FINISHES INSIDE TOP 20: Dallas Torres opened with a 76 before shooting an even-par 72 in the second round. He closed with a 73 to tie for 16th at 5-over with a three-round total of 221.
SHAHRIARI ADDS THREE COUNTING SCORES: Avery Shahriari improved throughout the opening two rounds, following a 76 with scores of 74 and 75. He tied for 28th at 9-over with a total of 225. All three of his rounds counted toward NCF's team score.
CANTINE COMPLETES THE LINEUP: Cameron Cantine recorded rounds of 79, 76 and 78 to tie for 53rd at 17-over. He completed the tournament with a three-round total of 233.
BY THE NUMBERS
4: NCF's finish among the 12-team field.
3: Nationally ranked teams that finished behind the Mighty Banyans.
212: O'Reilly's program-record 54-hole score.
68: O'Reilly's final-round score, the lowest round recorded by a Mighty Banyan during the tournament.
287: NCF's final-round team score, its lowest of the tournament and one stroke under par.
Up Next: New College of Florida opens its spring schedule Feb. 8-9 at the Coastal Georgia Winter Invitational at Sanctuary Golf Club.
