RIVERSIDE, Iowa – Virginia Commonwealth University, behind senior Lanto Griffin (Blacksburg, Va.) (pictured, above) weathered an NCAA-quality field to take eighth at the 54-hole Golfweek Conference Challenge Tuesday at the Blue Top Ridge Golf Course.

The Rams, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association champions, finished the tournament tied with Xavier at 17-over par. Florida State (-11) captured team honors by eight strokes over host Iowa in a runaway victory.

The tournament field consisted of 15 teams that participated in an NCAA Regional last spring.

"We got off to a disastrous start, but after that we fought back pretty good on a great golf course and a really good field," VCU Head Coach Matt Ball said. "We definitely moved forward in our last two rounds. They were two of the better rounds each day in the competition, so if we can get off to a better start and not put ourselves behind the eight ball, then we can show some improvement."

Griffin, who sat fifth after the first two days of play, carded a 6-over 78 in Tuesday's final 18 to tie for 17th in the individual standings at 2-over par. Senior Rafael Campos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) fired a 74 in the final round and placed 22nd at 3-over. Sophomore Evan Boyer (+7, 36th), junior Vincent Nadeau (+9, 45th) and sophomore Chase Sargent (+16, 66th) rounded out VCU's fivesome.

The Rams return to fall action on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they participate in the two-day, University of Maryland Intercollegiate at the Hyatt Chesapeake Resort and Spa in Cambridge, Md.

T-8 VCU  (+17)   299-290-292--881
T17  Lanto Griffin (+2)    70-70-78--218
T22  Rafael Campos (+3) 74-71-74--219
T36  Evan Boyer (+7)       79-74-70--223
T45  Vincent Nadeau (+9) 76-75-74--225
T66  Chase Sargent (+16)  80-78-74—232

GOLFWEEK CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
TEAM STANDINGS
1 Florida State 287 285 281 853 -11
2 Iowa 288 280 293 861 -3
3 Coastal Carolina 292 284 290 866 +2
4 California, U. of 296 288 285 869 +5
5 Baylor 280 295 295 870 +6
6 Middle Tennessee St. 285 294 296 875 +11
7 Vanderbilt 293 285 298 876 +12
T8 Xavier University 290 291 300 881 +17
T8 VCU 299 290 292 881 +17
10 Illinois State U. 298 294 298 890 +26
T11 Texas-Arlington 297 297 300 894 +30
T11 Georgia Southern 306 291 297 894 +30
13 New Mexico State U. 297 301 299 897 +33
14 So. Florida, U. of 310 294 299 903 +39
15 Memphis, U. of 302 299 310 911 +47