The Florida A&M golf team earned a seventh-place finish with 909 points during Wednesday’s Garry Freeman Bethune-Cookman Spring Invitational at Daytona Beach.
The invitational presented eleven top-tier programs. Among them were No.2 ranked Bethune Cookman, No. 6 ranked Savannah State, No. 9 ranked Benedict College and No. 11 ranked Hampton.
“There were some really good teams there, but it was also good that we saw Bethune Cookman University and Savannah State University,” said Justin Still, a sophomore business administration student from Pensacola, Fla.
The Rattlers said they felt little pressure to perform well because they proved they could compete at this level in the past.
“All of my teammates have proven themselves,” said Senior and team-captain Shephard Archie III. “Anyone can set the tone any given day.”
The team concluded round one with a score of 298. It later finished round two with a score of 305 and round three with a score of 306.
Head coach Marvin Green said lack of consistency was a problem for the team it progressed in the tournament.
“Our only mistake was consistency, some days we were off to a good start and the next day we weren’t,” said Green.
Still expressed a similar sentiment.
“We played well for one round, and the next we wouldn’t,” said Still. “We just need to be a little more consistent.”
FAMU finished the invite only four spots behind archrival B-CU, who earned 876 points. Laval University won the competition with 873 points.
Individually, Archie earned fourth place. He said “confidence issues” that carried over from last season were the reason for his performance.
“The swing problems I had last semester are causing confidence issues this semester, so I have to work on my swings,” said Archie.
Still, who finished in seventh place individually, said he would have a stronger performance during the next competition if he works on his weaknesses.
“I need to work on my weaknesses and eliminate the mistakes in order to better prepare myself for the upcoming tournament and remainder of the season,” said Still.
FAMU will return to action March 11 to compete in the North/South Invitational, hosted by Butler University in Jacksonville, Fla.