SURREY STUDENT MAKES BREAKTHROUGH OVER MONSTER COURSE

BEN TAYLOR FROM LEATHERHEAD 

SCORES FIRST USA COLLEGE WIN

Ben Taylor from Leatherhead, a senior-year student at Louisiana State University, has scored his first victory in a USA college golf tournament.

Ben, pictured, shot rounds of 74, 69 and 71 for a two-under-par total of 214 over a "monster" course of 7,663 yards (par 72) at the David Toms Intercollegiate at University Golf Club, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The secret of Taylor's success was solid play from the sixth hole on in round one. Three-over after five holes Saturday after three straight bogeys, Taylor birdied the par 5 sixth and never looked back. He finished with a 74 and followed it with a 3-under 69 Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday Taylor consistently made the shots to help him and his LSU team. 
After an opening bogey, he proceeded to par the par 4 fourth, the par 5 sixth and the par 3 eighth to turn at 2-under. A bogey on the 12th was the only mark on his final nine holes as he posted 71 for his 2-under 214.
Louisiana State University also won the team title by two shots from Southeast Louisiana with Mercer (902) third in a field of 12 teams.
“The course was a lot firmer than it was (Saturday),” Taylor said after the win. “Obviously the wind  dried out the course. The shots were a little different. They were going a lot further. It started to get hotter in the afternoon and the greens were very fast. It was great conditions for scoring. "It was great conditions for getting rewarded for the right shots and I’m just thrilled to have hung in there on the back nine and shot a solid 71.”
Taylor was equally pleased with the win, but also where it came
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I’ve come so far since I’ve transferred (from Nova Southeastern to Louisiana State University). The dedication that (Head Coach) Chuck Winstead and (Assistant Coach) Garrett Runion) have given me since I’ve been here is breath taking. 
"I’m fortunate to have both of them as coaches and to win the home event as my first one I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result.”
“Ben’s a terrific player and he’s been playing very well,” Coach Winstead said. “It’s good for him early in the college golf season  to get a win and to feel what that feels like and hopefully he can use this as momentum as we keep going,"
There were quite a few other British students in the field. Here is how they fared:
 225 Laurence Allan (SE Louisiana), third-year student from Alva, Clackmannanshire: 74-76-75 (T10).
227 Ryan Shuttleworth (Central Arkansas), second-year student from Workington: 76-74-77 (T17).
228 James Newton (Central Arkansas), third-year student from Macclesfield: 81-72-75 (T20)
230 Matt Sheehan (South Alabama), second-year student from Gillingham, Kent: 83-75-72 (T28).
231 Eamon Bradley (SE Louisiana), third-year student from Mount Ellen, Glasgow: 80-76-75 (T30).
235 Ally Purdy (South Alabama), second-year student from Ballyclare, N Ireland: 84 74 77 (T45)
242 Ryan Pope (South Alabama), second-year student from Exmouth, Devon: 89 78 75 (T56)
243 Sam Whitehead (Winthrop), fourth-year student from Milton Keynes: 82-82-79 (T62).