LAHAINA, Hawaii – Playing against a field that included five top-50 teams, two of which are ranked in the top five, Louisiana Tech was the best golf team on Monday at the Ka’anapali Classic.
 
The scorecards prove it. 
 
LA Tech shot 269 (-15), the lowest final round among the 21-team field as well as the lowest round in program history, breaking the previous mark by three strokes.  As a result, the Bulldogs vaulted three spots on the team leaderboard to finish the three-day event in 11th at the Royal Ka’anapali Golf Course.
 
In doing so, they also set another program record for their best 54-hole total (282-277-269=828) by shooting 24 under, breaking the mark that was set just a little over a month ago at the GMAC Invitational.
 
Four Bulldogs finished under par in round three, but it was Jake Plumb who stole the show.  The sophomore had a career day himself, going bogey free for a 64 (-7) which tied for the lowest round on Monday among the field of 123 golfers.  After starting the event with a 77 (+6), he bounced back by shooting a combined 11 under in rounds two and three to tie for 35th.
 
Morton Bailey tied for 35th as well as the freshman Bulldog was steady in all three rounds, registering just five bogeys/double bogeys.  He got better as the event went along, shooting 71 (E) on day one followed by a 69 (-2) on day two and then matching his season-low with a 68 (-3) on day three.
 
Niilo Maki-Petaja was the top Bulldog finisher, shooting 69-70-68=207 to finish at six under and in a tie for 29th.  The sophomore overcame a double bogey on No. 13, registering five birdies and nine pars the rest of the way to shoot three under.
 
The fourth scorecard under par was that of Oskari Schuvalow who matched his round one score with another 69 (-2) to tie for 44th.
 
No. 2-ranked Oklahoma ran away with the team title, winning by six strokes after shooting 42 under. 
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Matt Terry
 
“Today was a great way to end this trip, playing so well.  We displayed really efficient golf.  It is something we have been trying to do all fall, be more efficient with less bogies since I feel like we have been making enough birdies.  Today, we eliminated a bunch of those and made the most of this tournament.  Really proud of the effort these guys gave us.  I am looking forward to the offseason, letting these guys get a little bit of rest before getting started again in February in Florida.”
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech will be away from action for three months, getting back on the course Feb. 3-4 at the Sea Best Invitational in Atlantic Beach, Florida, hosted by Jacksonville University.
 
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