PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — Behind a trio of Hokies in the top 16 on the leaderboard, the Virginia Tech men's golf team made an impressive opening statement to the spring season by finishing fourth at the Watersound Invitational. The three-day, 54-hole tournament, which concluded Tuesday, was hosted by Florida State at Shark's Tooth Golf Club (par 72, 7,202 yards).
Tech fired a three-round total of 2-under 862 (286-282-294). Georgia Tech, ranked 17th by Golfstat, led wire-to-wire in claiming the team title at 15-under 849 (285-277-287). Alabama was the runner-up with a 10-under 854, followed by 15th-ranked Notre Dame (858) and the Hokies.
In all, Tech defeated eight top-40 nationally-ranked programs in its first action of the spring. Among those teams were No. 4 North Carolina, No. 6 Arkansas and No. 12 Wake Forest.
Leading the Hokies' charge was Daniel Azallion, who finished in red figures at 2-under 214 to tie for 13th. He was followed in the standings by teammates Connor Burgess and Connor Johnson Jr., who both posted a 1-under 215 to tie for 16th.
David Stanford (225) and Drew Brockwell (226) rounded out the Tech lineup, tying for 52nd and 56th, respectively. Brockwell signed for a 3-under 69 in Monday's second round.
Alabama's Canon Claycomb recorded a 14-under 202 to run away with the individual race by eight shots over Ross Steelman of Georgia Tech.
Tech faces a quick turnaround as it is back in action Feb. 27-March 1 at the TPC Dorado Beach Collegiate hosted by UNCG in Dorado, Puerto Rico.