Missouri Southern golf takes fourth at Washburn Invitational

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

The Missouri Southern golf team finished the Washburn Invitational at the Topeka Country Club in fourth place.

"Our boys played well today, they finished the tournament with very consistent scores. Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma just were able to really lower their scores from the previous day," said Coach Mike Wheeler.

The Lions shot a third round 298 for a two total of 893 (297-298-298) just four strokes back of Central Oklahoma for third. Central Missouri held on to their first day lead and finished with a three round total of 850 (279-287-284) to take the team title. Northeastern State moved up three spots into second on the final day with a total of 886 (302-295-289). Washburn rounded out the top five by finishing with a third round 308 for a 901 total (299-294-308).

Missouri Western finished in sixth (904), Lindenwood (921), Nebraska-Kearney (930), Iowa Western Community College (935), Southwest Baptist (942), Fort Hays State (945), and Lincoln (992) rounded out the 12 team field.

Senior Ryan Buerk once again paced the Lions as he finished in sixth place with a three round total of 215 (72-73-70) just six strokes back of champion Zach Tucker (209, 70-67-72) of NSU. Junior Ethan Hutcheson finished tied for tenth with a 221 (73-72-76), while sophomore Taylor Lansford moved up one spot after the first two rounds to finish tied for 23rd at 227 (75-77-75). Freshman Chas Goines finished with a 233 (77-79-77) and sophomoreTrae Fairchild carded a three round total of 237 (82-76-79) to round out the Lions scoring.

"Buerk had a really good final day tying Sam Migdal of UCM for the lowest round of the day at 70. Hutcheson's second round of 72 tied for his second lowest score of the season and he did a great job for us this weekend," added Wheeler.

Southern, who came in tied for seventh after the two fall MIAA points events, now sit alone in seventh place in the MIAA standing with 17 points. The Lions are just three points out of fourth place, a three way tie with Lindenwood, Missouri Western, and Washburn; headed into the MIAA Championships next week at Alvamar Country Club in Lawrence, Kansas.

Leading the MIAA in a tie is Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri with 31 points, Northeastern State sits in third with 28 points. Nebraska-Kearney fell out of the tie with the Lions and into eighth with 13 points, while Fort Hays State maintained their ninth place standing with eight. Southwest Baptist and Lincoln are tied for tenth with five points each.

The points for the MIAA Championship are doubled for that event which is being held at Alvamar Country Club Member's Course. The Member's Course is 6,829 yards in lenght with a par of 72.