Loxley, Ala. — Junior Nolan Kuszyk earned his second straight top 10 finish, closing the fall season tying for seventh-place at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational, played at the par-72, 7,096-yard Steelwood Country Club.
 
Kuszyk fired the best round by an Owl this year, tying his career-low with a 66, which also set his career-long streak of five straight rounds under par.
 
Kuszyk began the day on the back nine, bogeying the 10th hole. But he followed with back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th. He then birdied the 15th and 18th to make the turn at -3. Kuszyk opened his second nine with a birdie on the first. After three straight pars, he birdied the fifth hole, then added another at the seventh before closing the round with consecutive pars.
 
He has a team-high nine rounds of par or better this year, and 33 in his career. The 66 was his second round in the 60’s this year and the 10th of his career.
 
Redshirt senior Henry Daly carded a 72 to tie for 50th-place at +3. It’s his team-leading ninth round of par or better this year, and the 33rd of his career.
 
Freshman Alex Kerins notched his first career round under par, posting a 71 to finish +10 in 72nd-place.
 
Senior Reggie Zhu tied for 76th-place at +12 after shooting a 79, and sophomore Raines Watson posted a 78 to finish at +16 in a tie for 80th-place.
 
The Owls carded a one-under 287, their eighth round of par or better this year, to finish +9 in 13th-place. No. 3 Auburn won the team title at -42. Georgia Tech’s Albert Hansson earned medalist honors at -20.
 
JUSTIN EMIL QUOTABLE
 
“It was a tough week for us. The guys played alright today, but we needed a deep one to move up the leaderboard. We learned a lot of good lessons this fall and some things to work on to be ready for the spring season. Nolan (Kuszyk) deserves a big shout out for a solid week out there.”
 
NEXT UP
 
The Owls return to the links when it opens the spring season at the Hal Williams Collegiate, Feb. 15-16, in Mobile, Ala.
 
13    Rice                                          289-297-287/873            +9
t7     Nolan Kuszyk                            70-69-66/205                  -11
t50   Henry Daly                                73-74-72/219                  +3
72    Alex Kerins                                77-78-71/226                   +10
t76   Reggie Zhu                               73-76-79/228                  +12
t80   Raines Watson                         73-81-78/232                  +16