CHOUDRANT, La. – Senior Andoni Etchenique rallied for a second-place finish individually while the ULM men's golf team slid back to fifth place on the final day of the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate Tuesday at Squire Creek Country Club.
The Warhawks shot a 2-over-par 290 in the final round to finish the tournament at 2-under-par 862 (288-284-290). UAB won the tournament at 21-under-par 843 (284-275-284).
Etchenique's strong final round was one of two bright spots for the Warhawks on the day. The native of Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle, France, fired a 4-under-par 68 to drop to 5-under par 211 (69-74-68) for the tournament. He finished four shots behind UAB's Nick Robillard for the individual title. Robillard finished with a 9-under-par 207 (67-68-72).
"Andoni played solid today and was in command of the golf ball," ULM Director of Golf Tim Baldwin said. "He showed great poise and got the job done."
Etchenique opened the final round with birdies on the par-4 first, par-4 fourth and par-5 ninth. He added a birdie on the par-4 10th and par-4 14th. He was tied for fifth place entering the final two holes when he picked up an eagle on the par-5 17th to vault into second place at 5-under-par for the tournament. He also had nine pars in the round.
Freshman Melan Dhaubedal shot his best round of the tournament with a 1-under-par 71 on Tuesday. He finished the tournament tied for 22nd at 3-over-par 219 (75-73-71) to move into the top four ULM individuals for team scoring after not being included in the team total the first two days of the tournament. Dhaubedal tallied back-to-back birdies on the par-4 sixth and seventh holes and added birdies on the par-3 12th and par-5 17th. He also picked up 11 pars in the round.
"I was also very pleased with how Melan played today," Baldwin said. "He also got into the zone and competed well."
Sophomore Otto Van Buynder tied for 18th overall at 2-over-par 218 (73-71-74). Van Buynder shot a 2-over-par 74 on Tuesday. He had four birdies on the day, going under par on the par-4 eighth, par-5 ninth, par-4 13th and par-5 17th. He added 10 pars to his total.
Senior Guillaume Fanonnel finished with a 5-over-par 77 on Tuesday to close the tournament tied for 22nd at 3-over-par 219 (72-70-77). Fanonnel posted a birdie on the par-5 17th.
Sophomore Keegan McLachland shot a final round 79 to finish the tournament at 223 (74-70-79). He birdied the par-5 17th on Tuesday.
Sophomore Michael Gilbert closed with a final round 82 to finish the tournament at 234 (77-75-82). He had 10 pars on Tuesday.
The Warhawks are back in action in two weeks at the Graeme McDowell Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama.
