Blue Devils Finish 10th At Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

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Ponte Vedra, Fla

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Duke University

Mercedes-Benz Invitational

Blue Devils Finish 10th At Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship

2/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

By: Duke Sports Information

Feb. 23, 2005

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - The Duke men's golf team posted a 10th-place finish at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship at the par-72 Sawgrass Country Club. Junior Ryan Blaum posted a three-day score of 221 (+5) to pace the Blue Devils. Duke's team score of 896 was 22 shots off the pace set by Florida, which won the event by five strokes. UF's Matt Every took home the individual title with a score of 215 (-1).

Despite the windy conditions, Blaum showed consistency throughout the event. After posting a 73 in round one, the junior from Coral Gables, Fla. Carded back-to-back rounds of 74 to finish at 221, six shots off the pace, and tie for 15th. Fellow junior Nathan Smith and sophomore Jak Grodzinsky ended up in a tie for 28th. Smith (70-79-74) was tied for the lead after the first day, but the wind took hold on day two. Grodzinsky shot 76 in each of the first two rounds and then fired a 71 in the final round. Bryce Mueller (75-85-73) and Alex Wilson (79-81-78) rounded out the scores for the Blue Devils.

Duke returns to action next week at the Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico. The event takes place from Feb. 27 through March 1.