LONGWOOD, Fla. – The FGCU men's golf team posted another strong performance in the final round of Stetson's Legacy Intercollegiate at The Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes Tuesday as the Eagles completed the tournament tied for 1st before falling in a one-hole playoff to Bethune-Cookman.
 
FGCU shot a final-round 296 – the second-best score of the day – to overcome a three-shot deficit entering the closing 18. Bethune-Cookman recorded a 299 final-round total, and the two Florida schools entered the one-hole playoff tied with a three-round 876 total (+12) – seven shots better than any other institution in the nine-team event.
 
The Eagles had the option of sharing the title with Bethune-Cookman after 54 holes, but wanting to give his team the experience of a playoff and match-play feel for potential upcoming postseason events, FGCU head coach Eric Booker opted for the playoff.
 
In the playoff, all five members of FGCU and Bethune-Cookman competed, but the Wildcats posted better scores than four of the Green and Blue's players to give them the hardware.
 
Andrew Potter and Cole Castro both finished in the top-5 overall to pace the Eagles as Potter (Naples, Fla./Community School of Naples) tied for 3rd – three strokes out of 1st – with a 217 (+1) three-round total following a final-round 76, and Castro (Homestead, Fla./South Dade HS) tied for 5th, just one shot back with a 218 (+2) after a closing 73 – the best among FGCU's players on Tuesday.
 
"I certainly wish we would have won the playoff, but it was exciting to watch the guys go through that, and hopefully they're able to use it as a learning experience," commented Booker, who helped guide the Eagles a spring-opening win two weeks ago. "I'm pleased with the progress the guys have made and the direction that we're heading. We've played two solid tournaments in a row and feel optimistic about the rest of the season."
 
In addition to Potter and Castro, Doug Smith (Windermere, Fla./Olympia HS) tied for 14th after a closing 74 for a 222 (+6) total, while Michael Keymont (Orlando, Fla./Eastern Florida State College/Timber Creek) shot a final-round 75 and tied for 19th with a 223 score. Grant Renegar rounded out the Green and Blue scoring with a 74 on Tuesday to tie for 23rd at 224.
 
Renegar (McComb, Miss./Meridian CC/Parklane Academy) tied for the 2nd-most pars over the three rounds with 39 (leader: 40), while Castro played the par-5s better than everyone save for two at -5 for the week. Keymont (38) and Smith (38) were right behind Renegar in total pars, while Castro and Potter both rolled in 11 birdies – one behind the leaders in that category.
 
The Eagles next return to action when they head across Alligator Alley to compete in the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate Monday-Tuesday, Mar. 5-6.
 
FGCU Lineup Results
T-3) Andrew Potter: 73-68-76: 217 (+1)
T-5) Cole Castro: 74-71-73: 218 (+2)
T-14) Doug Smith: 73-75-74: 222 (+6)
T-19) Michael Keymont: 73-75-75: 223 (+7)
T-23) Grant Renegar: 77-73-74: 224 (+8)
 
Legacy Intercollegiate Competing Teams (Golfstat Ranking)
T-1) #189 Bethune-Cookman: 289-288-299: 876 (+12)
T-1) #199 FGCU: 293-287-296: 876 (+12)
3) N/A Keiser: 294-297-292: 883 (+19)
4) #185 FAU: 293-296-298: 887 (+23)
5) #209 Morehead State: 295-288-306: 889 (+25)
6) #254 Stetson: 292-299-301: 892 (+28)
7) #230 IUPUI: 293-300-304: 897 (+33)
8) #226 Navy: 291-296-311: 898 (+34)
9) N/A Embry-Riddle: 305-288-309: 902 (+38)
 
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. He has led the Eagles to a pair of wins in limited-field events in 2017 and 2018. 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.