Troy University Athletics
Trojans Finish Eighth at Renaissance Inv.
11/2/2009 10:00:00 PM | Golf (M)
FT. MYERS, Fla. – After firing a seven-under par round of 281 in Sunday's opening round at the Renaissance Invitational, hosted by Xavier University, the Troy University men's golf team had trouble matching its early success.
The Trojans followed that opening round with a 10-over par 298 in the second round before finishing with a three over 291 in Monday's final round to finish eighth, five shots behind the host team, in a very strong field at The Club at Renaissance.
“We didn't get off to a very good start on Monday, but we did some good things,” Trojans coach Matt Terry said. “It was a decent way to finish the fall. We've got some things to work on so that we can figure out how to shoot that 281 more often.”
Indiana University held off a final round challenge from fellow Big Ten member Penn State to take the tournament team title with a score of 32-under par 832. The Hoosiers shot a final round score of seven-under 281 to hold off Penn State, which shot a closing round 12-under 276 to finish at 30-under for the tournament.
“Indiana, Penn State and Campbell just blitzed the entire field,” Terry said. “The tournament went right about the way the national rankings indicated it might.”
Half the field finished at least 13 shots under par while the other half finished over par.
Senior Justin Eaves (Louisville, Miss.) led the Trojans by finishing in a tie for 20th place at two-under par 214 for the event. Eaves followed an opening round 68 with a 76 in the second round. He closed the event on Monday with a final round score of 70.
“Justin made some mistakes in the second round, maybe because he relaxed a little after shooting such a good score in the first round,” Terry said. “He was able to bounce back and play better today to finish under par for the tournament.”
Indiana's Alex Martin was the top individual player in the tournament, posting three rounds in the 60s (69-64-67) to finish at 16-under par 200. Penn State's Kevin Foley and Liberty's Max McKay finished two shots back in a tie for second.
Western Kentucky's Neil Horsley finished fourth at 13-under par after also posting three rounds in the 60s (67-68-68). There were a total of 38 individual rounds played in the tournament at three-under par (69) or better.
Behind Eaves for the Trojans, juniors Reid Merritt (Slocomb, Ala.) and Zach Portemont (Andalusia, Ala.) finished tied for 31st with two-over par final scores of 218. Another junior, Chase Whitehead (Eufaula, Ala.) finished tied for 46th at eight-over par and freshman Kyle Blackston (Elizabethtown, Ky.) finished tied for 51st at 10-over par.
The tournament field produced a total of 13 eagles and 671 birdies with an overall tournament scoring average of 72.8. Eaves finished ranked in the top 10 with 14 birdies.
The Trojans next return to action in late February when they play in the Mardi Gras Invitational, hosted by UNO, at the TPC of Louisiana in New Orleans.
The Trojans followed that opening round with a 10-over par 298 in the second round before finishing with a three over 291 in Monday's final round to finish eighth, five shots behind the host team, in a very strong field at The Club at Renaissance.
“We didn't get off to a very good start on Monday, but we did some good things,” Trojans coach Matt Terry said. “It was a decent way to finish the fall. We've got some things to work on so that we can figure out how to shoot that 281 more often.”
Indiana University held off a final round challenge from fellow Big Ten member Penn State to take the tournament team title with a score of 32-under par 832. The Hoosiers shot a final round score of seven-under 281 to hold off Penn State, which shot a closing round 12-under 276 to finish at 30-under for the tournament.
“Indiana, Penn State and Campbell just blitzed the entire field,” Terry said. “The tournament went right about the way the national rankings indicated it might.”
Half the field finished at least 13 shots under par while the other half finished over par.
Senior Justin Eaves (Louisville, Miss.) led the Trojans by finishing in a tie for 20th place at two-under par 214 for the event. Eaves followed an opening round 68 with a 76 in the second round. He closed the event on Monday with a final round score of 70.
“Justin made some mistakes in the second round, maybe because he relaxed a little after shooting such a good score in the first round,” Terry said. “He was able to bounce back and play better today to finish under par for the tournament.”
Indiana's Alex Martin was the top individual player in the tournament, posting three rounds in the 60s (69-64-67) to finish at 16-under par 200. Penn State's Kevin Foley and Liberty's Max McKay finished two shots back in a tie for second.
Western Kentucky's Neil Horsley finished fourth at 13-under par after also posting three rounds in the 60s (67-68-68). There were a total of 38 individual rounds played in the tournament at three-under par (69) or better.
Behind Eaves for the Trojans, juniors Reid Merritt (Slocomb, Ala.) and Zach Portemont (Andalusia, Ala.) finished tied for 31st with two-over par final scores of 218. Another junior, Chase Whitehead (Eufaula, Ala.) finished tied for 46th at eight-over par and freshman Kyle Blackston (Elizabethtown, Ky.) finished tied for 51st at 10-over par.
The tournament field produced a total of 13 eagles and 671 birdies with an overall tournament scoring average of 72.8. Eaves finished ranked in the top 10 with 14 birdies.
The Trojans next return to action in late February when they play in the Mardi Gras Invitational, hosted by UNO, at the TPC of Louisiana in New Orleans.
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