PEBBLE BEACH, CALIF. – Junior George Cunningham of the University of Arizona men's golf team took third at the Saint Mary's Invitational with a score of 212 (-1), two strokes behind the winner, Eduardo Carrete. The Tucson native recorded 12 birdies throughout the three-day competition, half of them coming in the final round of play. Cunningham led the field in par-3 scoring, 2.29 avg. (-1), and was top-10 in birdies made and par-4 scoring, 4.15 (+4).
 
"I felt really good before the round started today," commented Cunningham, "but I started out pretty rough today. I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I normally do and was scrambling to just be three-over though seven holes. I got a break on the eighth and made a birdie, which really got my momentum with two par-fives, and I was able to get three birdies in a row to get my score back to even. The wind was down almost all day so the course played slightly easier, but the pin positions were very tough today at the same time."
 
Cunningham started off the tournament going one over in the first round. After scoring par in the second round, the junior went into the final day of the competition with a score of 143 (+1), in third place.
 
While the wind was one of the biggest factors in the first round of the competition, Cunningham showed what he can do with conditions being favorable on day three and marked a 69 (-2) in the final round to finish in third. Cunningham matches his career low 54-hole score of 212, set on March 2, 2015 during his freshman campaign at The Goodwin where he tied for second place.
 
The Cats concluded play in fifth place with a score of 884 (+32). The Cats recorded the first top-five finish of the year.
 
"We had a better day today, and I was proud of the way our guys finished," commented head men's golf coach Jim Anderson. "George's game looked very sharp and he was able to score even after a tough start. Also, having a freshman (Laskin) shoot even today was huge for us. Poppy Hills is a course that requires discipline because it seems like there are lots of birdie opportunities. In the end, par was a great score."
 
Recording six birdies and a pair of eagles, the Cats recorded a third round score of 290 (+6), the lowest of the year. On the ninth hole of the final round, the Cats scored a pair of birdies and eagles.
 
Anderson continued, "We have made improvements each time out this fall but there is a lot of work to be done. I feel like we have very good players who are going to have to compete to travel next spring. We need consistency on our back end scoring and the next two months are going to be key for a few of our guys."
 
Freshman David Laskin set his career low 18 hole score in the final round of the competition, recording a 71 (E) and marking his first collegiate round of par or better. The freshman from Elk Grove, California finished play in a tie for 41st place with a score of 225 (+12). Junior Jordan Gumberg went four over on the day to score a 75 (+4). The junior ranked in the top-20 in pars made, 32, and par-4 scoring, 4.2 (+6), and ends play in a tie for 34th place with a score of 224 (+11).
 
Junior Ethan Marcus and senior Redford Bobbitt scored a 75 (+4) in the final round of play. The two were the only Cats to record eagles at any point in the tournament, both coming on the ninth hole of the third round. Marcus will finish tied for 52nd with a score of 229 (+16), and Bobbitt will finish tied for 56th with a score of 230 (+17).
 
Freshman Briggs Duce competed in the Saint Mary's Invitational as an individual. Duce will finish the contest tied for 72nd place with a score of 237 (+24).
 
Up next, the Cats will compete at home in the Arizona Intercollegiate starting on Monday, Jan. 23-34, 2017 at the Sewailo Golf Club.

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