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Daytona Beach, FL – From wet and windy course conditions to a beautiful, blue sky on Championship Tuesday, LIU steadily extended its lead each day at LPGA International in Dayton Beach, FL to claim the 2023 NEC Men’s Golf Championship title by five strokes. It marked the third title in program history and second in the last three years for the Sharks.

The Sharks' FIN-tastic team performance produced a 54-hole total of 870, which left them six-over par after an eye-opening 7-under 281 third-round score. LIU's three-round tally tied for the second-lowest in NEC Championship history, one stroke behind Wagner's 869 back in 2016.

Howard fought toe-to-toe with LIU in the final round, matching the Sharks' with a 7-under 281 to finish as the runner-up, five strokes behind with a three-day total of 875. Rounding out the top three was Sacred Heart, which shot a 1-under 287 today and 879 over the course of the event.

LIU freshman Marcelo Mexsen (Torreon, Mexico/Instituto Cumbres de Torreon) made his first championship a memorable one, shooting 4-under 212 (74-71-67) to claim the NEC individual title. Mexsen posted the best round of golf at the championship today, shooting 5-under 67 to pull away from the field. He shot at or under-par in all 18 holes, talllied three birdies and recorded an eagle the 16th hole. 

Mexsen not only won, but also tied the NEC record for the lowest 54-hole score in championship annals, matching Sacred Heart's Anthony Campanile (2008) and CCSU's Eric Hawerchuk (2009), who also shot 4-unde 212 at the event. His 67 in the final round also equaled the second-lowest round in meet history, one stroke behind Sacred Heart's Peter Ballo, who fired a 66 in 2014.

LIU teammate Kyle Underwood (East Ballina, NSW, Australia/Emmanuel Anglican College) joined Mexsen in helping LIU to its finish atop the team leaderboard, tying for sixth place with a 3-over 219. The graduate student recorded his lowest round of golf in the final round, shooting 1-under 71 with three birdies on the day. 

Leading the charge for the Bison was senior Gregory Odom Jr. (Memphis, TN/Middle College High School). Odom Jr. took one stroke off his game each day after shooting a 73 in the opening round to finish at an even-par 216. He scattered four birdies in the final round to finish 1-under 71 and tie for second place. Senior Everett Whiten Jr. (Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge High School) tied for fourth after shooting 1-over 217. Whiten Jr. continued to better his game throughout the three days and posting a final round 1-under 71, sinking four birdies, three of which came in the final four holes. Marcus Smith Jr. (Rockford, IL Winnebago High School) tied for sixth after producing his best and Howard’s best round on the third day, shooting 4-under 68. He sank five birdies and finished the tournament 3-over 219, climbing nine spots on the final day of play.

Leading the Pios were junior Marcus Lim (Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia UCSI International School) and freshman Pablo Lacayo (Managua, Nicaragua/Colegio Centro America), who both tied for eighth after shooting 4-over 220. In today's round, Lim, who was the 2022 NEC individual champion, carded a 2-under 70 while collecting four birdies, and Lacayo recorded a 3-over 75 that included a pair of birdies on the back nine. 

Wagner’s Thomas Choi (São Paulo, Brazil Inova-Ação) led the Seahawks to a fifth-place finish (902). Choi took yesterday’s momentum into the final round of the NEC Championship, posting his second staight 3-under 69 round to finish tied for second with an even-par 216 at the competition. He rang up five birdies in the final round.

Luke Minksy (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) shot his best round of golf today for fourth place Saint Francis U, firing a 2-under 70. Collecting five birdies, the graduate stidetm paced the Red Flash with a 1-over 217 to tie for fourth place. SFU rookie Thomas Webb (Easton, MD) climbed the individual ranks seven spots to tie for eighth place. Webb shot his lowest round on Tuesday, carding a 3-under 69 for a 54-hole score of 4-over 220. 

Team Standings
1. LIU                                           870, +6
2. Howard                                    875, +11
3. Sacred Heart                           879, +15
4. Saint Francis U                        897, +33
5. Wagner                                    902, +38
6. FDU                                         905, +41
7. Merrimack                                918, +54
8. Maryland Eastern Shore          944, +80
9. NC Central                               972, +108

Individual Standings
1. Marcelo Mexsen, LIU            212, -4
T2. Thomas Choi, WC               216, E
       Gregory Odom Jr., HU       216, E
T4. Luke Minsky, SFU               217, +1
      Everett Whiten Jr., HU        217, +1
T6. Marcus Smith Jr., HU          219, +3
       Kyle Underwood, LIU         219, +3
T8. Thomas Webb, SFU           220, +4
        Marcus Lim, SHU              220, +4
        Pablo Lacayo, SHU           220, +4