Miami Shores, Fla. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Golf team continued their spring campaign with a 5th place finish at the highly competitive Battle at the Shores hosted by Barry University in Miami Shores Country Club. Playing with many of the top 25 teams in the country, the Spartans were not intimidated and came out of the gates firing in the first round of play. Nolan Skaggs led the charge with an excellent round of 69, while Donte Groppuso and Tanner Little posted solid rounds of 71. Djaia Darrason battled for a round of 74 while Juan Ignacio Simon shot an opening round of 79. The team's first round team score of 285 left them in 4th place out of the 14 teams in the field.

During the second 18 of play on day 1, the team struggled, battling temperatures in the 90's and winds gusting to 25 mph. Skaggs followed up his first round with a solid round of 72. Groppuso and Little posting matching rounds of 73 while Simon improved to card a round of 76. Djaia Darrason rounded out the scoring with a second round 77. With a team score of 294, the Spartans dropped to 7th with one round to play. 

During the final round of play all 5 Spartans came to play. Djaia Darrason had his best round of the event, battling to shoot a 1-under par 69. Nolan Skaggs and Donte Groppuso continued their steady play, both shooting 1-over 71. Tanner Little and Juan Ignacio Simon carded rounds of 72 and 73 respectively. With a final round team score of 283, the Spartans moved up to 5th place out of the 14 high powered Division II opponents. With a 3 day score of 862 (285-294-283), the Spartans bested the 11th, 23rd and 36th ranked teams in the country.

The team is back in action this Friday (March 7) at their home tournament, the Spartan Shootout, which will take place at the Phillip J. Rotella Memorial Golf Course in Pomona, N.Y.