The men’s golf team began their season while the women’s team played in their second tournament on Monday at the Union University Fall Invitational at the Jackson Country Club.
The two-day, two-round tournament featured 46 men from eight different teams, while the women had 28 players from five teams.
The women finished second in the invitational, and the men’s golf team earned a seventh place finish. Coach Don Morris was looking for the one-day men’s score to finish around 309, and that is exactly what the team shot on Monday.
“We’ve got several freshmen playing,” Morris said. “And they’re going to improve as the year goes on, so we’ll be in good shape.”
Morris also said he was impressed with the women’s performance as they came back, played well and finished second.
The women had an 11-shot improvement from Monday, but the University of Arkansas-Monticello was able to hold off the women and maintain their lead. Arkansas-Monticello shot a 651 for the two days, while Union had a 669.
For the men, Braxton Rider finished first for Union and 12th place overall (149). The other four scores for the Union men included Trey Whitnell T29 (154), Jon Sain T38 (159), Ryan Williams 42nd (162) and Blake Karnes 44th (164).
Union also featured two players that played as individuals—Hunter Travis T29 (154) and Kyle Souleyrette 45th (165).
For the women, Union’s Lindsay McRee (163) finished tied for third place while KayCee Lindberg and Rilee Taylor both finished tied for sixth with 168. Joy Cooper and Sami Weber rounded out the Lady Bulldogs as they tied for 14th place with scores of 175.
Spring Hill (Ala.) took the top spot for the men after they rallied from second place on day one. Spring Hill (584) edged Arkansas-Fort Smith (588), while Arkansas-Monticello was third (592), Christian Brothers fourth (597), Freed-Hardeman fifth (602), Mississippi College sixth (606), Union seventh (620) and Bethel eighth (632).
Arkansas-Monticello (651) won the women’s tournament, followed by Union (669) in second. Freed-Hardeman finished third (672), Spring Hill (Ala.) fourth (773) and Christian Brothers University was fifth (799).
Up next for the men’s team will be the UT Martin SkyHawk Invitational, on October 5-6 in Paris, Tenn., while the women will play at the Freed-Hardeman Invitational, October 12-13 in Covington, Tennessee.
