BORREGO SPRINGS, Calif. -- The third-ranked Georgia Southwestern men's golf team posted the low round on Wednesday, a 279 (-9), to jump two spots in the standings and finish in second place at the 16-team Battle in the Desert played at the par-72, 6,955-yard Rams Hill Golf Club which featured six programs ranked in the Top 30 of NCAA Division II according to the latest National Collegiate Golf Rankings. GSW's Mateo Quiroga forced a playoff to decide the individual champion, but lost to California State University Monterey Bay's Simon Bjorken on the second playoff hole.

Quiroga matched his opening round 69 on Wednesday for the Hurricanes to finish at 5-under for the three-round tournament. He knocked down six birdies over the final 18 holes. Quiroga played the Par 5 holes at 7-under for the event which ranked third out of the 80-player field and the Par 4 holes at 1-under which was a stroke behind the leaders in that category. Quiroga and teammate Jack Tharrington drained two eagles apiece during the tournament to tie for the lead in eagles made. Tharrington tied for ninth overall by shooting even par for the week. Joao Costa and Payne Sells both jumped 13 spots in the standings on the final day. Costa finished tied for 33rd overall and Sells tied for 37th. Erik Fogel fired a 68 on Wednesday, the Hurricanes low score, to climb 18 spots and finish tied for 46th. 

No. 12 Florida Southern College won the event with a 3-over par, six strokes ahead of GSW. 

The Hurricanes return to the links on March 11 for the Southeastern Collegiate hosted by Valdosta State University at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga.

2024 BATTLE IN THE DESERT - TEAM SCORES 

GSW SCORES