Grayson Finishes Runner-Up, Akron Places Third at Firestone Invitational

Tuesday, October 3

Firestone Country Club | Akron, OH

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Firestone Invitational

Grayson Finishes Runner-Up, Akron Places Third at Firestone Invitational

October 03 | Men's Golf

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Akron, Ohio - The 2017 Firestone Invitational hosted by the Akron Zips came down to the final hole for junior Elliott Grayson (Shelby, N.C.), as he finished runner-up, and the Zips placed third overall with a 875 (+11) tournament total.

Grayson entered the final round of the 54-hole tournament tied for first with the reining Firestone Invitational champion in Cincinnati's Austin Squires. Grayson and Squires went back-and-forth throughout the final round at the par-72, 7,125-yard Firestone Country Club North Course. Grayson started the round on fire, recording birdies on the first two holes and establishing a two-stroke advantage.

After a pair of bogeys by Grayson, the two golfers were tied at even-par, but Grayson took the lead again on hole No. 6 with a birdie and a Squire bogey. With his second two-stroke lead of the day, Grayson posted a double-bogey on hole No. 7, while Squires tallied par. Both, Grayson and Squires, finished the fornt-9 with consecutive pars to enter the back-9 tied at 1-over.

The back-9 proved to be much different as both players fired a pair of birdies, but Squires carded one bogey to Grayson's three. Squires earned medalist honors with a 71-65-72 - 208 (-8) score, and Grayson totaled 71-65-74 - 210 (-6).

Illinois State held on to win the team title with a 5-under par 859 tournament total, while UC finished second in the team race with a 4-under par 860 ledger.

Senior George Baylis (Ascot, England) finished tied for 10^th overall with an even-par 216 score after a pair of 69 (-3) tallies and a 78 (+6) final round. Junior Jacob Appleby (North Canton, Ohio) followed with a 33^rd place finish and a 224 (+8) three-round total, while freshman Fabian Sunden (Sweden) and sophomore Mitchell McFarland (Wheelersburg, Ohio) wrapped up the Zips' home event with 227 (+11) and 229 (+13) scores, respectively. In addition, junior Jacob Morgan (Lafayette, Ga.) and sophomore Euan Gill (Dingwall, Scotland) competed as individuals, recording scores of 232 (+16) and 237 (+21).

The Zips will be back in action on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 9-10, at Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, W.Va. for the Mountaineer Invitational hosted by West Virginia University.

Top 5 Teams
1 Illinois State 282-282-295 - 859 (-5)
2 Cincinnati 291-282-287 - 860 (-4)
3 Akron, U. of 287-282-306 - 875 (+11)
4 S. Carolina - Aiken 291-293-299 - 883 (+19)
5 Dayton 297-298-289 - 884 (+20)

Top 5 Players
1   Austin Squires Cincinnati 71-65-72 - 208 (-8)
2   Elliott Grayson Akron, U. of 71-65-74 - 210 (-6)
3   Trent Wallace Illinois State 71-68-75 - 214 (-2 )
T4   Six players tied - 215 (-1)

3 Akron, U. of (+11) 287-282-306 - 875
2 Elliott Grayson (-6) 71-65-74 - 210
T10 George Baylis (E) 69-69-78 - 216
T33 Jacob Appleby (+8) 73-75-76 - 224
T48 Fabian Sunden (+11) 75-73-79 - 227
T60 Mitchell McFarland (+13) 74-77-78 - 229