Gao ties for third to lead UVA at Linger Longer Invitational

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Posted on Sunday, Mar. 14, 2021, 5:24 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

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(© Kevin Carden – stock.adobe.com)

Behind the best tournament performance of WeiWei Gao’s career, the Virginia men’s golf team finished third at the Linger Longer Invitational in Greensboro, Ga.

Gao had a final-round score of 68, to match his opening round effort, to tie for third at 8-under 208.

Virginia shot 11-under 277 during the final round for a three-day total of 9-under 855. Charlotte won the 16-team tournament at 25-under 839.

Gao’s previous best tournament finish was fifth place at last season’s Palmetto Intercollegiate. He also shot 208 at that event (on a par-70 course) and had his low career score of 68. It was the third top-10 finish of his career.

Gao got off to a great start with an eagle on the par-5 second hole before giving back several strokes and finishing his front nine at 1-over par. He piled up five birdies on his back nine to match his best round against par as a collegiate.

Sophomore Chris Fosdick, a transfer from Florida Southern, had his best result as a Cavalier by finishing 11th at 2-under 214. Fosdick led UVA during the final round with a 5-under 67. His round included six birdies and a single bogey.

Sophomore Pietro Bovari placed 16h at 1-under 214. He had a final round of 70 while senior Jimmie Massie was 27th at 219. Massie finished the tournament with an even par round of 72. Freshman George Duangmanee was 55th at 225.

UVA junior Jack Montague, who competed as an individual, also recorded several career bests. Montague shot 71 on Sunday to tie for 16th place at 1-under 215. That was his best individual finish at a collegiate tournament and his best 54-hole total as a Cavalier. During Saturday’s second round he shot a career-best 3-under 69.

The Cavaliers are off until April 5 when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the Shoal Creek Invitational.

Linger Longer Invitational

Great Waters Golf Course
Greensboro, Ga.
Par 72, 7,436 yards
Final Results

Team Results

  1. Charlotte                285-277-277-839
  2. Georgia Tech             283-284-283-850
  3. Virginia                 291-287-277-855
  4. Louisiana Tech           290-283-287-860
  5. Florida Gulf Coast       287-294-286-867
  6. High Point               287-302-285-874
  7. Memphis                  289-295-292-876
  8. Chattanooga              297-284-295-876
  9. Middle Tennessee State   296-287-294-877
  10. Toledo                   300-299-284-883
  11. Kennesaw State           295-296-295-886
  12. Mercer                   297-290-301-888
  13. Troy                     298-299-297-894
  14. North Alabama            294-300-301-895
  15. Augusta                  308-288-300-896
  16. Georgia State            299-297-303-899

Individual Leaders

  1. John Gough, Charlotte                 66-69-68-203
  2. Connor McKay, Middle Tennessee State  66-69-69-204
  3. WeiWei Gao, Virginia                  68-72-68-208
  4. Noah Norton, Georgia Tech             69-71-68-208

Virginia Results

  1. WeiWei Gao         68-72-68-208
  2. Chris Fosdick      74-73-67-214
  3. Pietro Bovari      74-71-70-215
  4. Jimmie Massie      75-72-72-219
  5. George Duangmanee  76-72-77-225
  6. Jack Montague*     75-69-71-215

* Competing as an individual