After taking hundreds of swings last weekend over the three-day, 54-hole tournament, the UNCW men’s golf team fell short of its aim for the inaugural Landfall Tradition title by two strokes.

The Seahawks stood their ground with defending national champion Minnesota on the Pete Dye Course at Landfall – tied at 863 after the final round. When two collegiate golf teams reach a first-place tie, however, the lower score on the final round of each team’s fifth participant determines the winner. UNC Wilmington senior Adam Gee shot a 77 Sunday. Minnesota senior Wilhelm Schauman shot two strokes less, giving the Gophers their first win of the fall 2002 season.

Although the Seahawks did not secure a trophy, UNCW coach Grant Robbins was pleased with his team’s performance. “The guys played exceptionally well,” Robbins said. “We had a chance to win. Overall, it was a good experience for them.”

Derek Brown, a junior from Walnut Grove, led the Seahawks for the tournament. Brown shot a 1-over-par 73 Sunday, which matched his first round score, and a 69 Saturday. His weekend 1-under-par 215 score earned him a tie for fourth individually.

Brown shot well with the woods and irons Sunday. On 11 out of 18 holes, Brown landed the ball on the green with his first or second shot.

“I hit it good, I just didn’t make any putts,” Brown said. “It’s not a bad tournament (score) by any means, but it could have been better.”

Brown parred the last 10 holes, several of which were almost birdies.

Missouri finished third at 870, Duke took fourth with a score of 874 and Purdue rounded out the top five at 884.

Minnesota’s Matt Anderson and Justin Smith tied for the individual title, each finishing at 211.

The Gophers’ team play impressed Robbins. “Minnesota showed why they are the national champs,” Robbins said. “(Smith) showed why he’s an All-American.”

Chris Happ of Missouri finished behind Anderson and Smith with 213. Duke’s Mike Castleforte shared fourth with Brown.

Tulsa claimed the women’s trophy from the Landfall tournament with 893, three strokes better than Florida State. The Golden Hurricane combined to shoot a 1-under-par 287, the squad’s season-best round, to obtain the crown the final day.

UNCW finished seventh, recording a 923 score for the tournament. Seahawks coach Cindy Ho associated the team’s scores with the four-week break between invitationals. “I don’t think competitively we were quite sharp enough to beat the teams that are out there right now that have been playing a little bit more,” Ho said. “We have a really great team, I just think that we have a long way to go.”

Like Robbins, Ho indicated the experience playing some of the country’s top programs would help establish confidence for future tournaments. “We are doing all this in preparation for May (regionals),” Ho said. “The more practice we get out here against these same teams, I think we’ll be better off in the long run.”

Arizona State finished one stroke behind Florida State. Wake Forest (899) and Purdue (900) ended fourth and fifth, respectively.

Wake Forest’s Nuria Clau won the individual honors with a 2-under-par 214. Seminoles senior Kristin Tamulis was on Clau’s heels in the final round, shooting a career-low 68 to finish the tournament at 215. Christine Fernandez was Tulsa’s other top five finisher with a score of 220. Mississippi State’s Sofie Anderson, Colorado’s Erin Kerr and Purdue’s Heather Zielinski tied for fourth with 221.

Sophomore Amelie Farrah shot the lowest score for UNCW. The Canada native shot an 8-over-par 224 to tie in 12th position for the event.