BY JESSICA PALL &
MINDY PIERCE
Lions’ Pride Sports Editors

Courtesy of Mike Carlson

Mark McGuire

Men’s Golf claimed their team victory at the Spartan Invitational in Tampa where they played at the Rogers Park Golf Club.

“The Spartan Invitational was the most consistent the team has ever played,” Saint Leo’s men’s golf coach Ray Cisbani said.

Senior Mark McGuire won the tournament with 73-64-137 with 64 setting a school record. Senior Cole Cisbani came in second shooting 69-69-138 and teammate JP Albuquerque closed the top three spots placing third with 69-72-141. Their other two teammates played respectably with junior Tom Lynn shooting 73-74-147 putting him in 7th place and Nick Brothers playing his first collegiate tournament with 77-79-156.

Cisbani was the returning tournament winner from last year and after the first round was leading with teammate Albuquerque. Cisbani’s second round was good, but he struggled in the middle, ending however on a positive note with 3 straight birdies on holes 14, 15, and 16.

McGuire shot 73 in the first round, but played very well in the final round including two chip-ins and a 40 yard shot holed out from the fairway for birdie. His second round score of 64 won him the tournament and the school record.

“This was a great tournament,” said Tom Lynn.

“My thoughts on winning first as a team are as it was expected. We have the guys to do it and that’s exactly what we did, came out on top,” winner Mark McGuire told the Lion’s Pride.

“Winning first on my team means a lot to me but not as much as winning first as a team, it’s a plus,” senior McGuire said.

From this success, the Spartan Invitational ranked the team 10th in the nation of NCAA II Golf. Three team members, McGuire, Cisbani, and Albuquerque, are also ranked nationally. McGuire is 3rd in par 3 scoring and 6th in subpar strokes, Cisbani is ranked 3rd in par 4 and 14th in subpar, and Albuquerque is 9th in par 3.

Cisbani shot two 69’s which is 4 total under par while Macquire shot 5 under par.

Cisbani told the Lions’ Pride that he sees the team’s placing as a precursor to a very successful season. “We played very well together and I can see the Lions going very far this season.”

Saint Leo University’s men’s and women’s golf teams hosted the Saint Leo Invitational at Lake Jovita on 10/20/09. The men’s team captured the title while the women’s team took third. Both teams recently competed on the course as the men participated at the Rollins College Invitational while the women battled at the Flagler Fall Slam. Go to saintleolions.com for results.