Oct. 30, 2011

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior Joe David fired a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Bridgestone Collegiate on Sunday to earn his ninth career top-10 finish and fourth of the season, as the Ole Miss Rebels finished in 10th place.

Iowa State won the team championship with a 582 score for the tournament, besting runner-up North Carolina State by five strokes.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be 54 holes with two round to be played on Saturday and the final round Sunday; however, persistent rains forced tournament officials to cut one round due to continued poor conditions.  

The Rebels improved on Saturday’s score by six strokes, shooting a 296 Sunday to finish at 594 for the tournament.  Only three strokes separated the Rebels from the third place teams, Virginia Tech and Mississippi State.  

"It was another good tournament for Joe David—he had a good 69 today,” said Ole Miss head coach Ernest Ross.  “We didn't give him much help. This was a little tougher course than we normally play, but not that much harder. Each player has some weaknesses that they have to overcome.  We will give our guys a few days off and then go back to work."

David shot a sub-70 score for the eighth time this season Sunday, racking up three birdies and an eagle on the day to tie for the second lowest individual score of the day.  David was matched by tournament winner Albin Choi of North Carolina State.  

Fellow senior Billy Brozovich and sophomore Tom Brown narrowly missed top-20 finishes.  Each posted a 74 in both rounds of the tournament to tie for 22nd in the individual standings.  For Brown, it was his best result of the season.

The tournament marked the end of the fall schedule for the Rebels.  They will return to action Feb. 26-28 at the John Hayt Collegiate in Ponte Vedra, Fla.  

TEAM STANDINGS (FINAL)
BRIDGESTONE COLLEGIATE (GREENSBORO, N.C.)
1.   Iowa State  297-285--582
2.   North Carolina State  297-290--587
T3.  Virginia Tech  294-297--591
T3.  Mississippi State  295-296--591
5.   South Carolina  291-301--592
T6.  North Carolina  294-299--593
T6.  Kentucky  300-293--593
T6.  Purdue  297-296--593
T6.  Michigan  299-294--593
T10. Pepperdine  304-290--594
T10. Ole Miss  300-294--594
T12. UNCG  296-302--598
T12. Georgia State  297-301--598
14.  VCU  307-296--603
15.  Toledo  298-311--609
OLE MISS INDIVIDUALS
T8.  Joe David  76-69--145
T22. Tom Brown  74-74--148
T22. Billy Brozovich  74-74--148
T56. Joe Lewis  76-77--153
82.  Thomas Watkins  81-82—163