PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's golf team shot a final-round 2-over-par 282 on Tuesday, finishing in ninth place at the Sea Best Invitational, which was played at TPC Sawgrass (Dye's Valley Course - 6,790 yards, par 70).
It was UNLV's fifth tournament of the year, but the first of the spring season.
No. 12 Texas A&M captured the team title by two shots at 13-under 827 after a final-round-low 6-under 274. Florida was the only other team under par at the event as the Gators finished at 11-under. Liberty was third at 1-over, No. 13 North Carolina was fourth at 2-over and North Florida rounded out the top five at 7-over.
UNLV's 54-hole total was 22-over 862.
Individually, Florida had the top two players as Ricky Castillo earned medalist honors at 8-under 202 after a final-round 5-under 65. Teammate John Axelsen was second at 5-under and there was a three-way tie for third at 4-under.
UNLV was led by junior
Jack Trent's tie for 25th at 3-over and freshman
Falko Hanisch's tie for 32nd at 4-over.
There were 14 teams and 84 individuals competing.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will be back in action Feb. 20-22 at the John Burns Intercollegiate in Hawaii.
NOTABLE:
• UNLV lost Mountain West Golfer of the Year and All-America Scholar
Harry Hall to graduation following last season. He competed at the prestigious Walker Cup in September, becoming just the third Rebel in program history to be invited.
• The Rebels have welcomed four new players to this year's roster.
• Last year's team appeared in a NCAA-record 31st straight regional and advanced to the national finals where it finished in the top 20.
• Trent and sophomore David Rauch are UNLV's returning All-Mountain West performers. Trent competed at the PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas in October thanks to an amateur exemption with his win at the SHC. He made the cut and finished tied for 29th.
• Senior Justin Kim, who turned in UNLV's best individual finish at the NCAA Finals last season, was also named an All-America Scholar.
• This year marks head coach Dwaine Knight's 33rd season leading the Rebel program.
