Clouse posts top-10 finish at Bearkat Invitational

Monday, April 1

Montgomery, Texas

Abilene Christian

Huntsville Toyota Bearkat Invitational

McKinney, TX - APRIL 25: Southland Conference men's golf conference championship at Stonebridge Country Club Dye course in McKinney on April 25, 2018 in McKinney, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts)

Photo by: Southland Conference

Clouse posts top-10 finish at Bearkat Invitational

4/2/2019 5:30:00 PM | Men's Golf

Final Results

MONTGOMERY, Texas — ACU sophomore Alex Clouse continued his strong play this week at The Bearkat Invitational as his eighth-place finish helped the Wildcats to an eighth in the team title chase in the tournament played at the Walden on Lake Conroe golf course.

The Wildcats rebounded in Tuesday's final round to card a 5-over-par 293, recovering from Monday's two rounds that saw them shot rounds of 305-302 and enter the final day at 31-over-par and tied for 10th overall. But the Wildcats' solid round Tuesday helped them move up two spots in the final standings and defeat Southland Conference rivals New Orleans (10th) and Incarnate Word (11th).

Tournament host Sam Houston State won the team championship at even-par 864 with rounds of 290-287-287 with UTEP finishing second at 4-over-par 868 (295-285-286), followed by Lamar in third at 6-over-par, UT-Rio Grande Valley in fourth at 9-over-par and Texas State in fifth at 14-over-par.

"Sometimes in this game you're the windshield and sometimes you're the bug," ACU head coach Tom Shaw said. "For the first two rounds we were definitely the bug as we struggled out of the gate and our upperclassmen didn't play well. in the last round we were clearly the windshield, playing with purpose and having the fourth--best score of the day The upperclassmen really came to play (Tuesday), led by Garrett Glanton (1-over-par 73) and Bryce Dooley (3-over-par 75). We are a much stronger team when we get contributions from all five guys and it's great to end the tournament on a high note."

Clouse sandwiched a pair of 1-under-par 71s around a second-round 74 to finish tied for eighth in the individual standings at even-par 216. The sophomore started his final round on the back nine and posted a pair of bogeys in his first eight holes to make the turn at 1-over-par. He blistered the final nine holes with three birdies, five pars and one bogey to finish the round at 1-under-par 71.

"Alex Clouse had another strong week," Shaw said. "He's such a solid, consistent player. It's a pleasure to watch him go about his business. He continues to impress me with his discipline and preparation, key characteristics of great athletes."

Chase Allison finished tied for 25th at 8-over-par 224, while Dooley and Francisco Osio each finished tied for 57th at 18-over-par 234. Glanton finished tied for 62nd at 20-over-par 236.

The Wildcats are off next week, but return to action April 15-16 at the Bayou City Intercollegiate tournament at the Golfcrest Country club in Pearland. That's the team's final tuneup before the Southland Conference championship tournament, which will be played April 22-24 at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club-Dye Course in McKinney.

"We certainly need to get better in some areas," Shaw said. "I need to do a better job preparing the team for courses that provide more challenging tee shots. We'll get better this week and be ready for some even stronger competition at the Bayou Intercollegiate."