Men's Golf | 4/19/2016 11:08:00 PM
Final ResultsMcKINNEY – The ACU Wildcats capped the 2016 spring season Tuesday with a nice comeback round to finish sixth at the Southland Conference men's championship golf tournament at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.
After moving into second place after Monday's first round with an opening score of 289, the Wildcats fell back to fifth place after the second round with a 26-over-par 314. Tuesday, however, the Wildcats came back with a solid 299 to finish at 902 for the three rounds and in sixth place.
McNeese State won its first Southland Conference men's golf title in 30 years with rounds of 297-282-298 for a final total of 877 and a seven-stroke win over runner-up Southeastern Louisiana (287-303-294—884). Sam Houston State was third at 885 (297-295-293) with Lamar in fourth at 886 (304-290-292), Stephen F. Austin in fifth at 893 (300-304-289) and ACU in sixth at 902.
"The guys finished sixth this year (after finishing fifth in 2015), but showed signs that they are an improved team from last year, especially after being in the uncharted waters of second place after the first round," ACU head coach
Tom Shaw said. "We did not respond well to that new territory and promptly gave it all back and then some. But I was proud of them for coming back in round three and showing some fight."
The Wildcats were led by freshman
Garrett Glanton, who finished his first season at ACU by finishing tied for eighth at the conference tournament at 5-over-par 221 after rounds of 68-80-73. The eighth-place finish marked his third top-eight finish of the 2016 spring slate.
Ryan Beatty – completing his first competitive season at ACU – finished tied for 15
th at 8-over-par 224 (70-79-75), along with senior teammate,
Dillon Vaughn, who finished his Wildcat career with rounds of 72-76-76.
Robert Johnson finished tied for 41
st at 233 (79-79-75) and
Clarke Hudgins finished tied for 49
th at 240 (81-83-76).
"Garrett finished his freshman campaign in fine fashion with a top-10 finish after leading the tournament in the first round," Shaw said. "
Ryan Beatty and
Dillon Vaughn provided their usual upperclassmen leadership on and off the course this week, both posting top-15 finishes and keeping the younger players loose, but also focused.
"All in all, a good number of positives this week and some solid foundations laid for the future of the ACU golf program," he said.
