Golf: Cajuns Edge Louisiana Tech For Second At Sam Hall Intercollegiate

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns golf team used a round of 6-under par (278) to move past Louisiana Tech and claim second place at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate on Tuesday at the par-71, 6,902-yard Hattiesburg Country Club.
 
"I am realy proud of the tenacity and fight that I saw from this group," head coach Theo Sliman said. "We had a chat last night about what winning was to this team, and it wasn’t just about bringing home trophies, but coming out to compete every day and giving it everything that we had. They did an excellent job of stepping on the tee boxes with a winning attitude and finding a way today."
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns had four of the five golfers in the lineup post a round of par or better to edge the Bulldogs by a stroke with a 54-hole score of 8-under (844). McNeese State claimed both the team and indivial honors posting a score of 23-under (829) paced by Robert MacIntyre with a three-round score of 14-under (199).
 
Louisiana Tech (-7, 845), Mississippi State (E, 852), Little Rock (�1, 853) and UTSA (�1, 853) round out the top 5 teams.
 
Junior Fernando Cruz Valle captured a career-best 54-hole score of 10-under (203) after tallying a 69 (-2) in the final round to finish in third place. Cruz Valle dropped two strokes in the front nine, but bounced back to post a bogey-free back nine with four birdies to secure medalist honors. The finish marks the sixth time in Cruz Valle’s career that he placed in the top 10 at an event.
 
"Fernando showed guts and what he is made of today," Sliman added. "He got off to rough start and then bounced back and did what good players do and finished strong.
 
Senior Haraldur Magnus joined Cruz Valle in the top 10 using a 69 (-2) of his own to finish in seventh with an overall score of 6-under (207). Magnus had seven birdies on the day to record his seventh career top 10 finish.
 
"Haddi (Haraldur) and Fernando both birdied a very tough 18th hole, which turned out to be the difference in us finishing second or third," Sliman said. "That’s the kind of leadership and resiliency you expect from a pair of veterans."
 
Sophomore Andrew Navarette notched a top 25 finish in his debut outing for the Cajuns with his second round of even par (71) to place in a tie for 25th at 2-over (215). Ragnar Gardarsson moved up 14 spots in the final round after registering a 69 (-2) on the final day to finish in a tie for 46th at 7-over (220) in his debut.
 
"Really pleased with the consistency that we saw from Andres this week," Sliman noted. "He showed some heart. I was also glad to see Ragnar bounce back with a round in the 60s after a rough first 36 holes yesterday. We couldn’t have finished second if they hadn’t stepped up their play today."
 
Senior Christian Verrougstraete capped the scoring for Louisiana in a tie for 64th at 12-over (225), while freshman Tristan Elston placed in a tie for 49th as an individual with an overall score of 8-over (221).
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns return to action Sept. 26-27 at the Sun Belt Conference Fall Preveiw held at the Raven Golf Course in Destin, Fla.
 
For updates and info on Ragin’ Cajuns golf, follow the squad on twitter @CajunGolf or check RaginCajuns.com.