JAMAICA, N.Y. -- Sophomore Andrew Svoboda (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) finished at five-over par 215 and shared individual honors with two other golfers, leading the St. Johns mens golf team to a second place finish at the BIG EAST Championship, held at the Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, Rhode Island. Virginia Tech, ranked 24th nationally in the Mastercard Collegiate Rankings, finished first in the six-team field.

Svoboda, who was tied for second place entering the final day of play, carded a one-over par 71 on the final day to finish in a tie for first place with Notre Dames Steve Ratay and Virginia Techs Brian Krusoe. The win is the fourth this season for the sophomore, who becomes the first St. Johns golfer since P.J. Cowan in 1987 to win the individual title.

The Red Storm had entered the final day of competition two strokes off the pace of the 24th-ranked Hokies, but shot a 14-over par 294 while Tech pulled away by carding a seven-over par 287. Virginia Tech won at 35-over par 875, with St. Johns nine shots off the pace at 44-over par 884. Rutgers finished in third place (57-over par 897), followed by Georgetown (60-over par 900), Notre Dame (62-over par 902) and Seton Hall (64-over par 904).

St. Johns had three golfers, led by Svoboda, earn All-BIG EAST honors by finishing among the top-10. Joining him was sophomore Jesse Fitzgerald (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), who tied for fourth place at eight-over par 218, and senior Andrew McKay (Collingwood, Ontario/Collegiate Institute), who tied for seventh-place at 10-over par 220.

Red Storm sophomore Joe Saladino (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) tied for 20th place at 22-over par 232 and freshman Mike Smith finished in 29th place at 33-over par 243.

St. Johns will now wait until May 8, when the NCAA Division I mens golf committee will announce its selections for the NCAA Regionals.