April 23, 2006

SEA ISLAND, Ga. - For the second consecutive day, the Auburn men's golf team fired a 3-under on the back nine to finish fifth in the SEC Championship with a 289-285-283--857 at the par-70, 6,991-yard Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club Sunday.

Top-ranked Georgia claimed the title with an 11-under 269 on the final day for a 13-under 276-282-269--827 total. Third-ranked Florida also had an outstanding day, firing an 11-under 269 to finish in second at 285-274-269--828, just one stroke behind Georgia.

Alabama finished third at 280-282-287--849 followed by Kentucky (292-276-287--855), Auburn (289-285-283--857), LSU (288-288-292--868), Arkansas (295-288-286--869), South Carolina (292-295-285--872), Tennessee (286-290-299--875), Vanderbilt (290-296-291--877), Mississippi State (305-293-281--879) and Ole Miss (290-301-295--886).

"We played today like we played the whole tournament," said Auburn head coach Mike Griffin. "We started off slow the first couple of holes, and then we put it in gear. We didn't play bad but we just needed to start off better. I guess that shows the character of our young team that they continued to battle back each day. I'm proud of the way they showed some fight."

Senior Stuart Moore earned his third top-ten finish of the season with a 72-69-70--211. He recorded birdies on the seventh, 14th and 17th holes. Junior Andrew Medley carded birdies on three of his final five holes and finished tied for 20th at 72-72-71--215.

Sophomores Patton Kizzire and Jay Moseley both fired a 1-over 71 in the final round and finished tied for 23rd. Both were 2-over at the turn and fired a 1-under 34 on the back nine. True freshman Glenn Northcutt finished tied for 27th at 217. He was 4-over through his first five holes but was 2-under on the back nine for a 72 total.

Florida's Brett Stegmaier was 3-under on the final day to claim medalist honors with a 68-70-67--205, one shot ahead of Georgia's Brian Harman (67-73-66--206). Alabama's Matthew Swan (68-67-72--207) and Georgia's Chris Kirk (68-72-67--207) tied for third.

Bids for the NCAA East, Central and West Regionals will be announced May 8.