Former Straughn Tiger and current South Alabama Jaguar Brooks Rabren rallied back to win the 2017 Spirit of America Invitational Championship on Sunday at the Burningtree Country Club in Decatur.

“The first couple of rounds I kind of started off slow,” Rabren said. “At the end of the first day, I was one-over par. Then, through the first three holes of the second round I was five-over par.”

Rabren said he knew that something had to change if he wanted to make the cut.

“After that third hole in the second round, I knew I had to put something together or I would be out of the tournament all together,” Rabren said. “I finished out that round strong and then put together two good rounds on the weekend. That is the way you want to do it.”

After opening up scores in the low 70s in the first two rounds, Rabren finished the tournament with a 68 on Saturday and then shot a 67 on Sunday to claim the championship.

“It was great event and I had a lot of fun,” Rabren said. “There were a lot of good golfers. It was mostly guys who are currently playing college golf, but there were a few guys who just finished high school. The guy who finished in second place actually just signed with Troy so we will be playing against each other this upcoming season.”

Before setting his sights on the 2017-18 college golf season, Rabren looks to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship. today in Jackson, Miss.

“I’m really excited about having the opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Am,” Rabren said. “It’s pretty much the biggest amateur golf tournament in the world. I’m especially excited to playing in it when I’ve been playing well. When you are playing well, you want these tournaments to be back-to-back. Hopefully, let one good event lead into the next.”

Rabren said that the U.S. Am qualifier is a one-day 36-hole event.

“There are two spots available for the U.S. Am tournament,” Rabren said. “It will be 36 holes in one day. I’m actually out here right now just looking at the course and trying to get a feel for it. This is one of those rare events where finishing second is just as good as finishing first.”

If Rabren finishes in the top two, he will earn a spot in the 2017 U.S. Am Championship held at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles Aug. 14-20.

“It would be an amazing place to play, if I make it,” Rabren said. “It’s a great golf course that hosts PGA events every year.”

After that, Rabren then goes back to college in Mobile, where he has been a key part of the Jaguars’ golf team.

“I’m excited about this upcoming season,” Rabren said. “We only had one senior last year so we are bringing pretty much the entire team back. I’m looking forward to a really good year.”