By John Morgan Francis

Knight Leads Racers to Victory in 11th MSU Invitational

Posted: September 13, 2018
Article, Featured, News

Photo by MSU Athletics

The Murray State men’s golf team won for the 11^th time at their home MSU Invitational and posted their best score in a decade of the event that began 15 years ago with a solid final 18 at Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Kentucky.After winning in 2017, the Racers have now won in back-to-back seasons after scores this week of 282-282-279 for a 9-under-par 843 which earned a four-shot win over fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Morehead State (288-281-278=847). The Racers’ 843 is the team’s third-best performance in the 15 events that have been played since the first in 2004. MSU’s 843 ranks behind only the 835 they carded in 2008 and the record 832 that was scored in the second year of the tournament in 2005.

Tied for the lead heading into the final round, Murray State’s Austin Knight placed third on scores of 68-70-70=208. Murray State freshman Dalton Bagwell and senior Gabe Wheeler shared 13^thplace. Bagwell had scores of 73-70-70=213, while Wheeler posted rounds of 69-70-74=213. Connor Coombs placed 23^rd after scores of 72-75-69=216 and Quinn Eaton placed 31^st on rounds of 80-72-70=222.

Justin Wendling led the Racers’ three solo players in the field of 72 with a spot in 10^th place with his collegiate low event on scores of 68-74-70=212, while Rhett Cardwell and James Boone shared 32^nd place. Cardwell had scores of 76-72-75=223. Boone had MSU’s low round of the event in round one and finished with scores of 67-77-79=223.

After the Racers and Morehead State, the rest of the top-5 included Delta State (857), UT Martin (860) and Tennessee State (864).

Knight shot a final round 70, but was four shots off the torrid pace set by Delta State’s Zach Zediker who had the low round of the tournament in the final round with a 6-under-par 65.

Miller Memorial played to a par-71 and a length of 6,601 yards.

Next up for the Racers is the EKU Classic (Sept. 15-16) at the EKU University Club in Richmond, Ky.

Courtesy of MSU Athletics