Dukes Take Home Third at UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate

Sunday, February 10

Banyan Creek GC | Palm City, Fla.

James Madison University

UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate

2/12/2019 4:41:00 PM | Men's Golf

@JMUMGolf JMU MG on Instagram Final Results

PALM CITY, Fla. - The James Madison men's golf team climbed to challenge the leaders on Tuesday afternoon before taking home third place to close out the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate, hosted by UNCG at the par-72, 6,802-yard Osprey Course at Martin Downs Golf Club.

In their third and final round, the Dukes charged out of the gates to erase a nine-stroke deficit and tie for the lead before carding a 4-under 284, second-lowest of any team on the day, to take home third at the 13-team event. The performance marks the fifth time in as many tournaments that the Dukes have finished inside the top five.

Sophomore Ignacio Montero led the way on the final afternoon of play, carding four birdies on his way to a 2-under 70 that pushed him up a spot and into a tie for fifth at 213 (-3) at the 92-player tournament. The finish marked his first top-five finish of the season and the second of his young career.

Freshman Ignacio De Pineda finished just one stroke behind Montero, carding a final-round 1-under 71 put him in a tie for seventh, the best finish of his collegiate career. Senior Ben Tucker continued the run of Dukes in a tie for ninth, after his round of even-par 72 put him a stroke behind De Pineda and gave Tucker his second top-10 of the season.

Junior Ryan Cox went under par in his final round to close out the JMU scoring with a 1-under 71 that moved him into a tie for 24th at 219 (+3) on the final leaderboard, while junior Walker Cress took home a tie for 47th after a 3-over 75 in his Tuesday loop.

Playing as an individual, junior Quinn Tardif carded a final-round 77 (+5) to climb three spots into a tie for 67th with a three-round score of 235.

QUOTING COACH FORBES
"I'm really proud of the way we came out today to finish the week. The guys were ready from the start and battled their way into position to compete for the trophy. We had some tough things go against us in the later parts of the round and we ran out of steam, but this whole week was a strong way to start the spring and something we can build on as we get back and go back to work."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will be back in action in two weeks, when they travel to Golden Eagle Country Club in Tallahassee, Fla. to take part in the 2019 Seminole Intercollegiate, hosted by Florida State.