ESTERO, Fla. – The FGCU men's golf team improved its team score from Sunday's opening round, but the challenging Old Corkscrew design proved difficult again on Monday as the Eagles recorded a 319 final-round total to post a 4th-place finish at the 4th annual Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic.
 
Coupled with their opening-round 323 amidst wet and extremely windy conditions at the already-tight Old Corkscrew layout, FGCU finished just six shots out of 2nd place. #49 UCF took home the title at the 13-team tournament with a 624 total – a +48 score which indicates just how difficult the course played along with the weather conditions.
 
Grant Renegar (McComb, Miss./Meridian CC/Parklane Academy) posted a second-consecutive 78 to finish tied for 5th overall with a 156 total to lead the Green and Blue. Doug Smith (Windermere, Fla./Olympia HS) was just one stroke behind (157) after firing a final-round 77 – the best by any FGCU member and tied for the 5th-best round of the day in the 68-player field.
 
For the second-straight day, FGCU was short-manned as the Eagles' primary lineup was forced to use its only four scores as Robert Renner Jr. (Arlington Heights, Ill./Saint Viator HS) withdrew.
 
"The team handled everything pretty well considering we didn't have a fifth man," stated FGCU head coach Eric Booker. "I feel bad for Grant as he was in contention for medalist honors with three holes to play before he had some unfortunate situations on the 16th. We certainly have lots of work to do in the offseason, but we're on the right track and we're looking forward to the spring season."
 
In reference to Booker's comments regarding Renegar, the senior made a birdie on the par-4 15th to move just behind eventual medalist Daniel Brennan from Bethune-Cookman (151, +7). However, on the narrow par-4 16th, Renegar made an unfortunately quadruple bogey to knock him out of the medalist discussion.
 
Rounding out the FGCU primary lineup scores on Monday were Andrew Potter (Naples, Fla./Community School of Naples) and DJ Griffiths (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley HS) both signing for an 82. However, Potter posted his second-straight top-20 finish with a 161, while Griffiths tied for 38th after a 168.
 
FGCU also had a "B" team in its lone home fall tournament of the year. That group – which finished ahead of five Division-I schools – was led by Michael Keymont (Orlando, Fla./Eastern Florida State College/Timber Creek), who tied for 23rd overall at 162 following a final-round 83. James Leadbetter (Bradenton, Fla./Arkansas/IMG Academy) was close behind as he tied for 29th after a final-round 80 – the best by a member of the "B" squad.
 
Additionally, FGCU had two members competing as individuals. A complete breakdown of all team and individual scores is included at the end of this release.
 
Due to rain all day on Saturday, and some more overnight into Sunday, a decision to shorten the tournament from 54 to 36 holes was made on Sunday morning. Teams instead played 18 holes on Sunday off a shotgun start at 11 a.m., and concluded action on Monday with tee times off 1 and 10 commencing at 8:30 a.m.
 
The Jack Nicklaus-designed par-72 Old Corkscrew – which can stretch to 7,400 yards from the tips – was shortened to play 6,718 yards on Sunday and 6,750 yards on Monday, but it still wasn't enough to make up for the extremely challenging conditions. Players were allowed to play lift, clean and place on Sunday as balls frequently plugged and received little to no roll.
 
The average score on Sunday was an 83.85; it was slightly easier – but not by much – on Monday as the average was still more than 10-over par at 82.45. Not a single hole played under par all tournament, with the par-4, 450-yard 18th playing the hardest at an incredible +1.46 relative to par. There was only one birdie recorded on the 18th in the 134 rounds played.
 
The Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic concluded the Fall season for the Eagles. FGCU will commence a nearly four-month competitive break before returning right back to Old Corkscrew to open its spring slate. The Eagles will be hosting the inaugural Randy Grimes Memorial Shootout – a one-day, limited-field event on Sunday, Feb. 11.
 
FGCU Lineup
T-5) Grant Renegar: 78-78: 156 (+12)
T-11) Doug Smith: 80-77: 157 (+13)
T-20) Andrew Potter: 79-82: 161 (+17)
T-38) DJ Griffiths: 86-82: 168 (+24)
Robert Renner Jr: WD
 
FGCU "B" Lineup
T-23) Michael Keymont: 79-83: 162 (+18)
T-29) James Leadbetter: 84-80: 164 (+20)
T-42) Mark Iwinski Jr.: 84-85: 169 (+25)
T-45) Cole Castro: 85-85: 170 (+26)
T-59) Brent Fredericksen: 93-83: 176 (+32)
 
FGCU Individuals
T-42) Landon Weber: 91-78: 169 (+25)
T-63) Remec Carlson: 93-87: 180 (+36)
 
Homewood/Hilton Garden Airport & FGCU Classic Field (Golfstat Ranking)
1) #49 UCF: 316-308: 624 (+48)
2) N/A Keiser: 327-309: 636 (+60)
3) N/A FAU: 327-310: 637 (+61)
4) #208 FGCU: 323-319: 642 (+66)
T-5) #198 Bethune-Cookman: 327-316: 643 (+67)
T-5) #211 South Dakota State: 325-318: 643 (+67)
7) #153 Appalachian State: 326-330: 656 (+80)
8) N/A FGCU "B": 332-331: 663 (+87)
9) #121 Butler: 323-342: 665 (+89)
10) #285 Alabama State: 343-325: 668 (+92)
11) #207 St. Bonaventure: 338-332: 670 (+94)
12) #234 Creighton: 346-331: 677 (+101)
13) #250 Bryant: 340-345: 685 (+109)
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For schedule updates, news and information, visit FGCUAthletics.com. For the latest news and behind-the-scenes access to information, photos and videos, follow @FGCU_MGolf on Twitter and @FGCU_MGolf on Instagram.
 
COACH BOOKER
FGCU is led by 4th-year coach Eric Booker, a member of the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour (formerly the Nationwide Series) for portions of 17 years from 1990-2007. Booker finished in the top 5 three times in tournaments on the PGA Tour, and also played in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. He played in 62 career events on the PGA Tour, with his best finish being a tie for 3rd at the 1999 Honda Classic.
 
HELP THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.