Story by Tamas Mondovics
Florida Southern College junior and Newsome High School Alum, John Coultas, enjoyed the spotlight last month after a pair of high level golf tournament victories.
The first of two victories for Coultas and the Florida Souther golf team came with the NCAA Division 2 National Championship at Reunion Resort in Kissimmee in May, after the Moccasins outlasted the Lynn University Knights in the match-play final.
The 3-2 win marked Florida Southern’s first title since 2010, the final year before the championship switched from stroke play to match play. The win was the Mocs’ 13th championship, giving the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) six straight national titles in men’s golf.
The win was also the sixth for the school under current head coach Doug Gordin with the others coming in 1996, ’98, ‘99, 2000 and 2010.
Coultas’ team featured junior John VanDerLaan, along with sophomores Christian Anderson and Michael VanDerLaan and freshman Chase Ibbotson.
Coultas, Anderson and VanDerLaan were also the three individual winners in the final round for the Mocs.
As it was reported by NCAA.com, the tourney’s final did not start off well for Florida Southern. But by halfway through the day, Anderson, Coultas and John VanDerLaan all had even-par 35s and all three had the lead by a single stroke. Coultas earned his 35 with nine pars and finished his round with a team-best 69, with either a par or birdie on every hole, while knocking down the putt that officially sealed the title for Florida Southern.
Coultas was also named a first-team All-American and was selected to play as a member of Team USA in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Cup held at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga., just two weeks later. At the end, Team USA celebrated its 19.5-11.5 victory over Team Europe on Sunday, June 11.
Coultas joined the team of golfers, which also included Tampa native, Jimmy Stanger (University of Virginia).
The annual tournament was founded by the late golfing legend Arnold Palmer and matches the top collegiate golfers from the United States and Europe against each other in a Ryder Cup style event.
The Arnold Palmer Cup is a signature event of Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation – entrusted to carry on the legacy of Palmer’s lifetime commitment to philanthropy.
For more information please visit, ww.ncaa.com/sports/golf-men/d2.
