FSC's Eustaquio, Burgner Setting Pace at Nationals

Florida Southern is making quite an impression in the NCAA Division II golf championships in Houston, Texas. Jude Eustaquio opened his first national championship with a blazing 7-under-par 63 on Wednesday in the first round of the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships.

Eustaquio, a redshirt freshman at Florida Southern, carded seven birdies in a bogey-free performance that gave him a three-shot lead at Memorial Park Golf Course, where the men's and women's national finals are being played this week.

"He played a flawless round,'' said FSC coach Doug Gordin. "He hit 15 greens and he had 26 putts.''

And junior Heather Burgner of Lakeland carded a 2-over-par 74 on Wednesday in the second round of the Division II Women's Golf Championships to maintain a share of the lead.

While Eustaquio was nearly perfect, the Mocs turned in an average round as a team.

Florida Southern is tied for seventh after posting a 3-over-par 283 total, 10 shots behind the leader, Clayton State of Atlanta.

"It is not a bad round, but I didn't like the way we did it,'' Gordin said. "When you put 7-under up with one guy, you've got to be breaking par as a team.''

Senior Blake Holbrook shot 71, while Danny Evelyn finished with a 74. Matt Stauch added a 75 with a double bogey and triple bogey. Brian Richey's birdie-free 76 didn't count toward the four-player score.

"Team-wise, it wasn't our best day. It was OK,'' Gordin said. "But the good thing is, we didn't shoot ourselves out of it.''

Clayton State, led by Will Wilcox with a 66, fired a 7-under 273 and holds a five-shot advantage over Belmont Abbey entering today's second round in the 72-hole event. Indianapolis University is third at even par.

In the women's tournament, Burgner is tied with Joanna Coe of Rollins and Taylor Collins of Nova Southeastern at even-par 144 with two rounds to go. The junior, named a first-team All-American for the second straight year, birdied the par-3 15th hole for the second straight day.

Coe shot 73, while Collins fired a 70 with an eagle-par finish.

Burgner, who played at George Jenkins High School, is competing as an individual. The FSC women's team did not qualify for the national tournament.

Teammate Lindsey Bergeon, a senior, also made the All-American team. An honorable mention selection, Bergeon became the first Lady Moc to earn All-American honors all four years.

Nova Southeastern widened its lead over Rollins to seven strokes with a 36-hole team total of 11-over-par 587. Ferris State is in third place at 604.

[ Del Milligan can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or at 863-802-7555. ]