GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sam Nicholson, a freshman at the University of South Florida, closes the Fall Elite Series with an 11-under par win at Mark Bostick Golf Course at the University of Florida. Players battled it out for 36 holes on the first day of the tournament, while finishing the tournament with 18 holes on Tuesday.
Sam Nicholson and Michael Sakane were forces to be reckoned with in the first round on Monday. The two posted rounds of 64 (-8) to tie for the lead and finish round one four strokes ahead of third place. Despite some strong play from Joe Sullivan and Quentin Debove in round two, Nicholson, the Atlantic Beach native, carded a second under par round to secure a solo first place finish at nine-under par. Joe Sullivan posted four birdies in his last seven holes to finish round two with a 65 (-5) and seven-under finish in second place. Gainesville resident, Debove, carded a round two score of 65 to finish in the top three at six-under par.
A steady final round with a birdie-par-par finish secured the first place victory for Nicholson on Tuesday. Nicholson, a FJT alumni, is a freshman at the University of South Florida and now a first-time FSGA champion. Joe Sullivan and Nicholson were the only two players posting three rounds under par. Sullivan carded a final round 68 to finish two-strokes back in second place at nine-under par 201. Quentin Debove secured third place after a final round 71 and 205 (-5) finish. Nicholson finished the last Elite Series event with a victory after a final round 68 and 11-under par 199 total.
