EDWARSVILLE, Ill. - The Drake men's golf team earned a seventh-place showing in its season-opening tournament at the SIUE Derek Donenc Invitational on Tuesday (Sept. 10) at the Sunset Hills Country Club posting an 893 (298-295-300) scorecard for the 54-hole event.
Drake finished tied with Southern Illinois in what proved to be competitive tournament as only five strokes decided fourth through eighth place.
“We are a little disappointed with our 300 today to finish five strokes out of fourth place,” Bulldogs head coach Matt Lewis commented. "We were really one good score away from a top 3-4 finish. This being our first event, we learned a lot and we are excited to get out there at Colorado State next week and hopefully put together a few lower rounds and have a good event."
Freshman Brady Richardson (Tulsa, Okla.) was Drake's top finisher in the event registering a 54-hole score of 221 (71-74-76) to place 15th in his initial collegiate tournament.
A final-round 72 vaulted junior Dane Worley (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) into a 19th-place tie with a 223 (77-74-72) total.
Fueled by a 226 (79-72-75) 54-hole score, freshman Karter Smith (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) capped his first collegiate golf tournament with a 29th-place effort.
"Obviously it was a good start for Brady (Richardson) to his collegiate career as he and Karter (Smith) turned in respectful rounds of 75 and 76 today," said Lewis. "Dane (Worley) played very solid today from start to finish hitting the ball really well. He had a lot of chances, he just didn't make as many putts as he would have liked."
Seniors Connor Steele (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Matt Ohl (Milford, Iowa) shot final-round scores of 77 and 80, respectively, to conclude the event with 47th- and 56th-place performances.
The Bulldogs step back onto the course next Monday (Sept. 16) and Tuesday (Sept. 17) traveling to Fort Collins, Colo., to compete in the Ram Master Invitational hosted by Colorado State.
DRAKE RESULTS: Brady Richardson (71-74-76=221/T-15th), Dane Worley (77-74-72=223/T-19th), Karter Smith (79-72-75=226/T-29th), Connor Steele (78-75-77=230/T-47th) and Matt Ohl (72-81-80=233/T-56th).
SIUE DEREK DONENC INVITATIONAL
SEPT. 10, 2013 • EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
54 HOLES
1) Belmont - 866 (289-291-286=866)
2) SIU Edwardsville - 873 (286-297-290=873)
3) Lipscomb - 883 (290-301-292=883)
4) Bradley - 888 (286-301-301=888)
5) South Dakota - 889 (297-302-290=889)
6) Nebraska Omaha - 892 (292-297-303=892)
7) Drake - 893 (298-295-300=893)
Missouri State - 893 (299-299-295=893)
9) Southern Illinois - 900 (301-300-299=900)
10) Eastern Illinois - 915 (303-310-302=915)
11) Western Illinois - 918 (309-312-297=918)
12) IPFW - 921 (302-312-307=921)