VIERA, Fla. -- Kyle Brey had been waiting three years for this. And to think, the better part of the Barry University junior men's golfer's first two years he fought just to crack the lineup.
Now he and his teammates are Sunshine State Conference champions.
Brey tied an SSC Championship record, shooting 12-under 204 to win his first college tournament, following a final-round 6-under 66 at Duran Golf Club's 7,051-yard course. The second-ranked Buccaneers won the team title with a 14-under 850 to finish six strokes ahead of runner-up Saint Leo. The Bucs shot 4-under 284 in the final round.
"It's the first time in my college career I've had three rounds under par," said Brey, who had a two-stroke lead entering Tuesday's third round. "It's the first time I slept overnight with the lead. I didn't sleep too well, so I had Coach (Jimmy Stobs) come along for the 18. But I knew if I could get to 3-under total today, I thought that would give me a good chance to win."
That's where Brey found himself at the turn after making birdie on the 542-yard, par-5 ninth. He made back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 and again at 15 and 16 to build a seven-stroke lead on runner-up John VanDerLaan of Florida Southern, and sealed the title with a bogey and par on the last two holes.
"I just tried to stay aggressive," Brey said. "Just make sure I could find the fairway and find somewhere around the green, and I knew I could make par."
SUMMARY:
- Barry won its second straight tournament, and the program's third overall SSC Championship. It was Barry's third league title in five years after winning back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014.
- Brey ripped off eight birdies Tuesday, never relinquishing more than a two-stroke lead in the final round. His 16 birdies in the tournament were tied for the most with Florida Tech's Gaelen Trew, who finished third at 5-under 211.
- Senior Mike Anderson tied for fifth at 2-under 214. He shot par in the final round. Anderson torched the front nine with five of his six birdies Tuesday.
- Senior Mario Beltran tied for 10th at even-par. He also shot par in the final round, offsetting two bogeys with two birdies.
- Sophomore Niclas Weiland tied for 14th at 1-over 217. He shot 74 Tuesday, using a birdie on the 427-yard fifth and 14 pars to stabilize his Top-15 finish.
- Daniel Faccini was 24th, following a 2-over 74. He made four birdies, including the 568-yard first and the 540-yard 15th.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Brey's individual title marks the fifth time a Buccaneer men's golfer has won the SSC Championship. He follows Adam Svensson in 2014, Daniel Stapff in 2011, Carlos Velez in 2010 and Kenny Fill in 1998.
- Brey's 66 is a career low. His previous best was a 68 in the final round of the first event of the season -- the Flagler Jennison Memorial. Brey has shot in the 60s in the final round in four of the 10 tournaments this season.
- Brey tied a 14-year SSC Championship history record for lowest score relative to par with his 12-under finish.
- Anderson finished in the Top 5 for the second time this season. His par in the third round is the ninth time this season he's carded a par-or-better round.
- Beltran's Top-10 finish is his third in the seven tournaments he's competed in this season.
- Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame head coach Jimmy Stobs won his 33rd title in his 15th season with the Buccaneers.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"It's as good as it gets. Coming off winning our home tournament and this tournament, I think it's going to be a step forward going into regionals and nationals. Everyone's playing well, so hopefully we get to do that."
-- Bucs junior Kyle Brey
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will compete in the NCAA Division II South Super Regional in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, May 8-10.
RESULTS
SSC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kyle Brey, Barry (Most Outstanding Golfer, Individual Champ)
John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern
Gaelen Trew, Florida Tech
Manuel Torres, Lynn
Max O'Hagan, Florida Tech
Mike Anderson, Barry
