University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Rutgers Invitational
Gallman Breaks School Record To Win Rutgers Invitational
9/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 12, 2009
Piscataway, N.J. - USC Upstate golfer Josh Gallman dispelled any thoughts that anyone else would win the individual championship at the Rutgers Invitational Saturday by making birdie on four of his first six holes, shot a school record 66 and cruised to a six-stroke victory to claim his fifth career collegiate championship. His performance helped lead Upstate to a second-place finish as Rutgers claimed the team title.
Gallman, a senior from Gaffney, S.C., broke the Upstate school record with a 66 Saturday, improving the mark by a stroke. Gallman, along with Baxter Culler, Michael Lawrence and Tyler Tucker, were tied for the record having shot rounds of 67. He began the round with a par on his first hole, then proceeded to birdie the second, fourth, fifth and sixth holes to move to 4-under-par for the tournament. He bogeyed the 14th, but birdied two of the last three holes to finish at 5-under for the day and the tournament. He won by six strokes over Rider's Eric Lafante in second place. Gallman finished the tournament first in par-4 scoring at 5-under, seven shots better than the second-best player in the tournament.
"It feels good to get off to a good start," said Gallman. "I'm looking forward to the tournament coming up in Florence (Springhill Suites Intercollegiate Monday and Tuesday). I think we will have a lot of confidence heading into the tournament."
"Josh was steady all day," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "He hit really good shots, had a lot of birdie putts and was able to make them. To beat the field by six strokes is something special. The first thing he told me after the round was that this was the way he wanted to start off the year."
Gallman's win was the fifth of his standout career. He won four tournaments in 2007-08, Upstate's first playing on the Division I level. He won the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, Stetson/CFSC Invitational, Lonnie D. Small Classic and the Samford Intercollegiate en route to earning first team A-Sun All-Conference honors and earning three A-Sun Golfer of the Month awards. Gallman was an all-conference performer last year and was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American Scholar.
Gallman's performance helped lead Upstate to a second-place finish in the tournament. The Spartans turned in a 294 on the day, but Rutgers finished with a 291 to win the team championship by three strokes. The Scarlet Knights won the tournament with a 592 total. Upstate was second at 595 and was followed by Mount St. Mary's (601), Central Connecticut (606), Monmouth (607), Rider (614), Fairleigh Dickinson (619), UMass-Lowell (622), Long Island-Brooklyn (633), Nassau CC (634), St. Peter's (641), Dowling (648) and Wagner (659).
McKenzie Oref, a freshman from Easley, S.C., who played in his first college tournament, turned in a 74 Saturday to improve his score by eight strokes over his first round Friday. He birdied his last two holes to help keep Upstate in striking distance for the championship. His 156 total was good for a tie for 36th.
Michael Lawrence finished the tournament with a 76. The senior from Easley won the Rutgers Invitational in 2007, Upstate's first-ever tournament playing on the Division I level. He finished with a 154 total and tied for 26th alongside teammate Bryan Otis. Otis turned in a 78 Saturday. Brian Horton finished with a 79 and in a tie for 30th. Tyler Comer, playing as an individual, turned in a 75 Saturday to improve his score by four strokes over Friday's opening round. He finished tied for 26th.
