Junior Brock Simmons follows through a swing at Frances E. Miller Memorial Golf Course last season.
The Murray State men’s golf team finished third place overall at the Murray State Invitational at Frances E. Miller Memorial Golf Course.
Head Coach Eddie Hunt said he thought the team really had a great opportunity to win because they were playing on their home course.
“When you have your own home tournament you always expect to win,” Hunt said.
Senior Jordan Smith led the Racers to a third place finish with the lowest score of the team. Smith’s total scores were 68-69-69 which in turn gave him an overall score of 206.
During the first day of the tournament Smith made seven birdies and an eagle in two rounds, and led the Racers to third place with scores of 292-290 with an overall score 575.
Head Coach Hunt gave praise to Smith for all of his hard work and determination to become an OVC champion.
“He has worked hard for the last three years on his game and his goal is to be an OVC champion and I think he has put himself in a position to do that by the way he’s working at his game,” Hunt said.
Junior Brock Simmons placed 22nd in the tournament with rounds of 72-76-73 with a total score of 221.
Junior Preston French tied it up in 22nd place with his teammate Brock Simmons after scores of 76-73-72 with another overall score of 221.
Sophomore Matthew Zakutney placed 30th with scores of 76-74-73, totaling 223. Junior Jared Gosser placed 39th with an overall score of 226.
Murray State had a successful pair of players from its second team as well: sophomore T.J. Ferry fired rounds of 70-73-72, totaling a score of 215, to get a share of eighth place. Junior Duncan McCormick placed 13th out of 75 players with rounds of 71-77-69 and a total score of 217.
The second team placed 11th overall in the event with scores of 299-302-298, a total score of 899.
The team that placed behind the Racers in fourth place was UT Martin, with Eastern Kentucky trailing behind in fifth with an overall score of 874.
The Racers’ next tournament will be Monday and Tuesday at the Cardinal Cup in Simpsonville, Ky., at the University of Louisville Cardinal Club.
Story by Heath Ringstaff, Contributing writer