The Gate June 2019 | Page 8

GOING THE DISTANCE - BGGA ALUMNI NEWS CARLOS MARRERO AND JUAN IGNACIO DE GIACOMI UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS proceeded to outscore Andre Jacobs by five shots and finish at 71. Huizinga went out in 34 and found himself behind by a shot to Austin Gean. But he won the second nine by three and shot a 2-under-par 70. UWF then fell to second-ranked Lynn, 4-1, at the 2019 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship on the Cobb Course at The Resort at Glade Springs. The third-ranked UWF men’s golf team finished in second place at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the fourth- consecutive year and 13th time overall. At the Regional Championship, sophomore and BGGA Alumni Carlos Marrero was a big mover for UWF, finishing at 225 as a result of his 74-73-78 effort. BGGA Alumni Juan Ignacio de Giacomi ended his first regional as an Argo tied for 18th at 72-76-75=223. At the NCAA Quarterfinal, UWF played a near flawless back nine to erase a front nine deficit and defeat Arkansas Tech, 5-0 to advance to the National Semifinals for the third- consecutive year. UWF was trailing in three of the matches at the turn before Marrero, de Giacomi and Huizinga won their matches with impressive back nine play. Marrero was down one with three to play and flipped the score on No. 7 with a birdie while Francois Jacobs bogeyed before winning by three shots with a 72. De Giacomi trailed by two after eight holes and 8 THE GATE | JUNE 2019 At the National Championship, Marrero built a 3-shot lead over Giovanni Manzoni after four holes. Their match was tied for one hole before Marrero shot 68 and won by two shots, giving the Argos their only point of the match. It also moved Marrero to a 5-0 all-time in NCAA Medal Match Play. Giacomi couldn’t get his putter going and shot even par but ultimately lost his match to Jorge Villar of Lynn by four shots. Marrero’s titles include the 2018 Florida Public Links Championship with a wire-to-wire 66-70-72+208, 8-under- par total at Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club, the 2017 Florida Amateur Match Play and 2016 Florida Amateur by Jacob Huizinga, the 2007 Florida Amateur by Matthew Galloway and the 2002 Florida Amateur by Ty Harris. Giacomi and his UWF team won their seventh straight GSC Title in April. Giacomi tied for 13th place with a score of 6-over-par 222. Giacomi came in third at the 2019 Las Vegas Desert Classic at 71-70-68+209. He had another top10 finish at the 2019 Southeastern Collegiate at 71-68-70=209.