PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Jacksonville State men's golf and junior Erik Jansson got a chance to match up with the best in college golf at North Florida's The Hayt to open the spring portion of their schedule.
 
Jansson, a junior from Vasteras, Sweden, went toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the nation and thrived, finishing tied for eighth in a field of 83 players that included 10 players ranked in the Top 100 in college golf. He beat seven of those players by firing a 3-under 213 over 54 holes on the par-72, 6,966-yard Sawgrass Country Club.
 
"I'm happy with my game this week and the top 10 finish, but I'm even more happy about how I handled myself on the golf course and how I fought out there," Jansson said. "In conditions like this you have stay patient and make good decisions. I have played a lot of golf in windy conditions during my time in Sweden and I think I have all the necessary shots to master the wind."
 
After opening the two-day event with a 1-over 73, Jansson finished the tournament with back-to-back rounds under par. He shot a second-round 69 on Sunday afternoon before capping the event with a 1-under 71 on Monday. He finished the tournament with 10 birdies and an eagle to lead the Gamecocks in new head coach Michael Brice's first event since taking over in late October.
 
"Erik is a player that everyone wants 10 of on a team," Brice said. "In practice he treats every shot like it's a tournament shot and it pays off when the whistle blows. I'm very proud of how he conducts himself on the course and fights for every shot."
 
Jansson made eight of his 10 birdies over the final two rounds, including five in his second-round 69. He birdied three holes on Monday and eagled the par-4 seventh hole after chipping in from about 20 yards out.
 
Of the six players that finished ahead of Jansson in the tournament, three of them entered the weekend ranked among the nation's Top-25 players. No. 1 ranked Gordon Sargeant of Vanderbilt, who is the reigning NCAA Champion and a recent invitee to compete in this year's Master's Tournament, won the event after shooting a 15-under 201. He beat runner-up and No. 10-ranled Nick Gabrelcik of North Florida by seven shots. No. 24 Matthew Riedel tied for fourth.
 
Nine of the 14 teams in the field entered ranked in the nation's Top 100, with No. 2 Vanderbilt (-28) beating No. 42 North Florida by 16 shots. The Gamecocks finished 13^th, one spot behind No. 39 Arkansas in 12^th. The prestigious tournament is often labeled the first major of the year in college golf.
 
"Going into this tournament we were all excited to play in this great event," Jansson said. "It was a premier tournament packed with great players. I think this was a great opportunity for us to compare our games to some of the best teams in college golf., and I'm proud over how we fought this week. We are a tight group of guys that works hard and wants to break new barriers. I'm confident that we will continue to improve going forward and be ready for the conference championship in April."
 
Sophomore Ryley Heath finished the tournament tied for 54^th after carding a 54-hole score of 226. The Decatur, Ala., native opened his tournament with a 78 on Sunday morning before rallying with back-to-back rounds of 74 to finish strong.
 
Sophomore Santiago Bailleres tied for 59^th with a 54-hole score of 227. The Carrientes, Argentina, native sandwiched a second-round 73 between rounds of 77 to open and close the tournament.
 
Redshirt freshman Richardo Matho finished 76^th after three rounds of 80 gave him a 240, while senior Ross Napier tied for 77^th with a 242 after shooting 80-82-80.
 
The tournament starts what will be a busy spring for Brice's team. The Gamecocks will play seven total events in a season that will culminate with the ASUN Conference Championship at Mobile's Magnolia Grove on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail on April 25-27.
 
"Finally, I would like to thank coach Brice and (assistant coach) Patricio Freundt- Thurne for all their hard work," Jansson added. "Coach Brice has only been at JSU for a little over a month and the team is already making progress under his lead."
 
Jax State's next tournament will be on Feb. 27-28 at the Gulf Coast Collegiate Invite, co-hosted by New Orleans and Nicholls at the Diamondhead Pine Course in Diamondhead, Miss.