PALM HARBOR, Fla. - Hunter Smith concluded the Copperhead Championship with a final-round surge Tuesday, firing the No. 2 University of North Georgia's (UNG) low score of the 54-hole tournament to secure a top-five individual finish at the Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course.
 
Smith posted a three-under-par 69 on the final day, a marked improvement after shooting matching one-over 73's in the first two rounds. His tournament total of one-under 215 moved him 17 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for fifth place.
 
Collectively, the Nighthawks closed out the championship with their best round, shooting an 11-over 299. North Georgia finished with a 41-over 905 tournament total to secure 13th place in the 17-team NCAA Division II field. The loaded tournament field features eight of the nation's top-10 ranked teams in latest Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division II national poll.
 
Supporting the low score from Smith, Rhett Smith provided a solid final-day three-over 75. He finished tied with teammate Colby Bennett for 53rd place overall at 13-over 229. Bennett, who had one of the team's better rounds Monday, carded a five-over 77 to close out the event.
 
Drew Sutherland finished tied for 75th at 17-over 233, and Kai Marko rounded out the North Georgia lineup, finishing 84th at 21-over 237 after a final-round six-over 78.
 
Top-ranked West Florida dominated the tournament to claim the team title with an 11-under 853 total. No. 7 Grand Valley State finished second at even par. West Florida's Per Ekelund took individual honors, finishing the event at five-under par.

The Nighthawks will wrap up the fall portion of their tournament schedule on Oct. 20-21 at the Fripp Island to Bermuda Invitational hosted by Golfweek.