JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The St. Johns University mens golf team shot a 14-over par 302 in the final round of play and finished in eighth place at the University of California-Irvine Anteater Invitational, played at the SCPGA Champions Course in Calimesa. The Red Storm had entered the final round in fifth place, and posted a solid final round score, but six schools shot nine-over par or better on Tuesday and the Red Storm finished eighth at 43-over par 907.

The University of Texas-El Paso carded a tournament best seven-under par 281 in the final round and finished at 21-over par 885 to win the team title. They were followed by Arizona (29-over par 893), Boise State (33-over par 897), San Diego (36-over par 900), Idaho (39-over par 903), host UC-Irvine (40-over par 904) and Long Beach State (41-over par 905).

The Red Storm were paced by sophomore Andrew Svoboda (Harrison, N.Y./Mamaroneck), who tied for second place with a two-over par 218. Svoboda, who was one shot off the pace in the final round, carded a two-over par 74 and finished tied with Dan Swanson of UTEP and New Mexico States Jon Babich. Nathan Fritz of UTEP finished at one-over par 217 to take medalist honors.

Sophomore Jesse Fitzgerald (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) finished in a tie for 20th place at 11-over par 227 and classmate Joe Saladino (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) tied for 34th place at 15-over par 231. Other finishers for St. Johns included senior Andrew McKay (Collingwood, Ontario/Collegiate Institute), who tied for 54th place at 19-over par 235 and Mike Smith, who tied for 66th place with a 24-over par 240.

The Red Storm will play next on April 6-7 at the East Carolina Pirate Invitational, in Greenville, North Carolina.