GULF BREEZE, Fla. – Matt Vela fired a final round 72 to finish fifth overall, helping St. Mary’s University to a 10th place finish overall at the Emerald Coast Collegiate, hosting by the University of West Florida at the Tiger Point Golf and Country Club.

Vela (Fr., San Antonio) shot a three-round total of 216 (71-73-72) to finish in a tie with two other players for fifth place overall at even par. Kyle Scott of West Florida took medalist honors with a 206 (66-70-70). The top-10 finish for Vela was his eighth this season and six in a row. He now has a 73.4 stroke average this season.

James Grant (So., San Antonio) placed 41st overall with a 230 (71-79-80), Preston Akromis (Jr., San Antonio) tied for 45th with a 231 (78-74-79), Jimmy Willingham (Sr., San Antonio) was 54th with a 234 (77-76-81) and Alex Maurer (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) was 69th with a 240 (77-78-85).

Brent Witcher of Valdosta State University finished second with a 208, Matthew Galloway of West Florida was third with a 212 and Sam Powell of Northeastern State University was fourth with a 214.

Host UWF took first in the team standings, firing a three-round total of six-under par 858 (281-286-291). Georgia College and State University was second with an 871, Valdosta State was third with 881, Lynn University was fourth with an 887 and the University of North Alabama with an 894. St. Mary’s was 10th with a 909 (296-301-312).

The meet in Gulf Breeze was the final regular season meet for the Rattlers, who will compete at the 2008 Heartland Conference Championships in Dallas on April 14-15. The Rattlers finished second in the 2007 Championships.

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