Augusta State assistant coach Keith Guest walked alongside Taylor Floyd all day Sunday. Guest helped the freshman on two fronts: He helped keep his mind off golf, and he dished out affirmations.
When the two weren't talking about the pretty girls in the gallery, Guest kept telling Floyd, "You're going to win this tournament."
With a back-nine 31, the Jaguar golfer proved Guest right. Floyd fired 5-under-par 67 in the final round to win the Administaff Augusta State Invitational by four shots.
Floyd became the first Augusta State golfer to win at home since Oliver Wilson in 2003. Previous winners of this tournament include Wilson, Dustin Johnson, Justin Leonard and Phil Mickelson -- all Masters Tournament participants this year.
After opening with rounds of 68-67, Floyd finished at 14-under-par 202 for his first victory since a club championship two years ago outside of Macon, Ga. The winning score was the second-lowest in tournament history.
"This was a lot of fun," Floyd said. "To do it here at home was special."
Floyd trailed Chattanooga's Derek Rende by one entering the par-5 11th hole. While Rende, who shot 71 to finish in second, bogeyed the hole, Floyd two-putted from 20 feet for birdie.
He followed with a pitching wedge to two feet for birdie at No. 12. Floyd then drained an eight-foot birdie putt at No. 13. Later, he dropped a snaking 20-foot downhill putt at the par-4 15th. Floyd then rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at No. 16. .
"Kid can play," Augusta State senior Janne Kaske said. "And he's a freshman."
Two weeks earlier, Floyd entered the final round of the Schenkel E-Z-Go tied for the lead. He shot a final-round 74 for a fourth-place finish. Floyd said he learned from the experience.
"That was the first time I've really been in contention," he said. "I was really nervous entering the final round. I learned how to handle that situation a lot better."
With Floyd's effort, Augusta State captured its second tournament in a week and won consecutive events for the first time in six seasons. The Jaguars, who won the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate on Tuesday, carded a final-round 11-under-par 277 to finish at 36-under-par 828 for a 13-shot victory. Chattanooga (282) placed second, while Kent State (282) placed third.
All five Augusta State players finished under par. Kaske, who won the individual title at the earlier tournament, shot 69 to tie for third at 208. Jake Amos shot 69 to tie for ninth at 209, while Henrik Norlander shot 74 to tie for 12th at 211. Carter Newman shot 72 and tied for 31st at 214.
"I knew we could play this way," Jaguars coach Josh Gregory said. "To see everybody finish under par is truly remarkable."
USC Aiken senior Roberto Diaz entered the final round with a two-shot lead. He extended his bogey-free streak to 42 holes before bogeying four out of a five-hole stretch during the middle of his round. After carding 75, he finished in a tie for third.
The Pacers finished in 10th place after shooting 293. Junior Justin Thompson shot 72 and tied for 12th place at 211. Sophomore J.P. Solis also closed with 72.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
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