March 3, 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Junior Zach Sucher finished tied for third overall to lead the No. 25 UAB men's golf team to a fifth-place finish at the Seminole Intercollegiate. The Blazers, who were one of eight teams competing in the event that were ranked among the top-45 in the nation, finished with a nine-over par 873 (291-296-286).

The tournament was originally slated for a three-day, 72-hole event. However, with the threat of inclement weather on Tuesday, the teams decided to play 36 holes on Monday.

UAB finished tied with No. 32 Louisville (291-294-288) and Vanderbilt (300-292-281) for fifth overall. Tournament host No. 13 Florida State won the three-round event by shooting a six-under par 858. The Seminoles finished strong with a third-round total of -3 (285) to beat No. 9 Auburn by four strokes. Virginia rounded out the top three at +2. The Tigers (-2) were the only other team to finish under par.

After shooting a two-under par 70 during Monday's opening 18 holes, Sucher carded an even par 72 during the second round and blistered the final round for a four-under par 68. The Mobile, Ala. native finished the two-day, 72-hole event with a six-under par 210. Vanderbilt's Jon Curran captured the medalist honors with a three-round total of 10-under par 206. Cullen bested runner-up Jay Moseley of Auburn by three shots (-7), followed by Sucher and North Carolina's Kevin O'Connell.

Senior Brad Smith tied for 27th overall, closing play on the par-72, 7,041-yard Golden Eagle Country Club with a five-over par 221 (72-77-72). Sophomore Adam West (76-79-70) and junior Mike Oimoen (74-75-76) both tied for 39th after shooting 225, while senior Kyle Sapp rounded out the team with a 229 (75-72-82).

The Blazers will next be in action on March 14-16, when they compete at the Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational, played in Statesboro, Ga.