Oct. 14, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's golf team closed play at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate tied for eighth overall in the 12-team field. The Blazers, which tied North Florida (285-282-288), closed tournament play with a team total of 855 (287-282-286) on the 6,934-yard, par 70 Old Overton Golf Course.

Senior Zack Sucher led UAB in the 54-hole event, marking the fourth consecutive tournament the Mobile, Ala. native was the team's top finisher. After opening the event with a one-under par 69, Sucher closed play with back-to-back rounds of 70 to finish tied for 11th overall with a three-round total of 209.

Three Blazers finished the two-day event tied for 42nd overall with a 218. Junior Adam West shot the team-low round of 68 during the first 18 holes and closed play with rounds of 78 and 72. Junior John Darby, who was tied with West entering the final round, also closed play with a 72 to follow his first and second rounds scores of 75 and 71, respectively. Sophomore Jason Shufflebotham, who competed in his first career tournament, recorded rounds of 75-69-74.

Sophomore Blake Watts rounded out the Blazers with a three-round total of 220 (76-72-72) to close play tied for 48th overall.

Tournament host Alabama captured its third consecutive Jerry Pate championship with a 10-under par 830. The Crimson Tide finished six shots ahead of second place Auburn (836). Second round leaders SMU finished third (838), followed by Baylor (839) and UNLV (841) to round out the top five.

SMU's Kelly Kraft was the medalist winner, finishing at six-under par 204 on the par 70 Old Overton Club course (The course changed pars for the tournament as it's normally a par 71). Auburn's Glenn Northcutt (205) and UNLV's Eddie Olson (205) finished tied for second overall.

The Blazers will next compete in their final tournament of the fall campaign when they travel to Johnson City, Tenn. to compete at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate on Oct. 24-26.