BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – ULM senior Guillaume Fanonnel used an eagle and three birdies over the final six holes to surge into the lead and claim his first collegiate individual championship Wednesday at the Graeme McDowell Invitational at Greystone Country Club Founders Course.
"It feels pretty good," Fanonnel said. "I've been waiting for this one for a long time. I'm happy it finally happened."
Fanonnel matched a career-best with Wednesday's round of 5-under-par 67, a mark he set just a day prior in the second round. He finished the tournament at 10-under-par 206 (72-67-67) to win by four strokes over Georgia Southern's Mason Williams.
In Wednesday's final round, Fanonnel stayed steady early on. He picked up a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole and added seven pars to finish the front nine at even par. He collected pars on the first three holes of the back nine before going on a tear to close the tournament.
It started with the par-5 13th hole. Fanonnel found the bottom of the hole with a chip shot to land an eagle, pushing him into the lead at 7-under-par.
"It all started on 13 when I had a tough chip-in and I was able to make it," Fanonnel said. "After making that chip for eagle, everything was just going my way. I can't really describe it. I just kept shooting good shots and gave myself some birdie opportunities and converted them."
After a par on the par-3 14th, Fanonnel added some distance between himself and the pack. He posted back-to-back birdies on the par-5 15th and par-4 16th before closing the tournament with a birdie on the par-5 18th to finish the round at 5-under-par 67 and the tournament at 10-under-par 206. He then had to wait as Williams and others finished up much of the back nine, but his lead was never in doubt.
"Today was a grind," Fanonnel said. "I was not feeling very confident off the tee and was grinding pars. And then I chipped in for eagle on 13, and after that, everything went my way. My short game really carried me on this tournament, which didn't happen for me in a while."
It marks Fanonnel's first collegiate win and his ninth Top-10 finish overall.
"I'm just coming out of a tough period, and winning was the best thing that could happen to me," Fanonnel said.
The Warhawks finished third as a team at 3-under-par 861 (283-292-286). UAB won its own tournament at 11-under-par 853.
Senior Andoni Etchenique also had a strong finish on Wednesday. Etchenique shot a 3-under-par 69 to close the tournament at 4-under-par 212 (71-72-69) to tie for third place. He collected five birdies on the day, posting red numbers on the par-5 fifth, par-3 seventh, par-4 11th, par-5 15th and par-4 16th. He added 11 pars.
Sophomore Otto Van Buynder closed the tournament with a final round 77 to finish at 225 (73-75-77). Van Buynder finished his round with birdies on the par-5 15th and 18th holes.
Freshman Melan Dhaubhadel rounded out the team scoring at 227 (71-78-78). He had a pair of birdies on Wednesday on the par-4 sixth and ninth holes to post a final round 78.
Sophomore Keegan McLachlan had his best round of the tournament at 1-over-par 73 to finish at 232 (77-82-73). McLachlan birdied three par-5s at the second, fifth and 18th holes and added another on the par-4 sixth.
Freshman Cody Winkler shot a final round 87 to close his first collegiate tournament at 236 (69-80-87).
The Warhawks are back on the course on Oct. 12-13 for the Intercollegiate at the Grove in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
