Blue Raiders conclude season in Myrtle Beach Regional

Wednesday, May 15

Murrells Inlet, SC

All Day

Middle Tennessee

NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional

5/15/2019 2:39:00 PM | Men's Golf

Owens fires 68 on final day to finish in Top 20

By: @MTAthletics

Final Results

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. – Despite the odds being stacked against them entering the final round of the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional, the Middle Tennessee men's golf team put up a fight Wednesday with another solid round of 6-over par 294.

The Blue Raiders finished the week at 28-over par (305-293-294=892) and were within 10 strokes of a pair of competitors in Oregon State (+18) and Cal State Fullerton (+23).

"What a great year," Head Coach Mark McEntire said. "If you would have told me on August 25th that I would be upset today because we didn't make it out of Regionals I would have thought you were lying to me, but it was an incredible run."

Junior Tanner Owens led the way in the final round and on the week, using a 4-under par 68 to climb 21 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 20th at even par (76-72-68=216).

"Today the conditions were a little bit easier," Owens said. "I got it off the tee really well today which gets you in good position out here, then I made a lot of putts and that made all the difference."

Senior James Beckner closed out his stellar career on Wednesday with a 3-over par 75 to finish the week at 6-over par (77-70-75=222) and tied for the second best score on the team.

"Congratulations to James Beckner on a great career at Middle Tennessee," McEntire said. "He was the ultimate student-athlete on and off the course I will miss having him out there with us."

Sophomore Cooper Sears matched Beckner on the day and the week, as his 3-over par 75 put him at 6-over (72-75-75=222) for the week and tied for 49^th in the field.

Freshman Jake Marvelli, a last-minute substitute for the Blue Raiders ahead of Regionals, finished his week strong with his best round of the tournament at 4-over par 76.

Fellow freshman Palmer Sadlowski finished with a birdie on the Par 5 18^th hole to card an 8-over par 80 on Wednesday and finished the week 20-over par (80-76-80=236) and one stroke back of Marvelli's 19-over par (80-79-76=235) mark.

With the season now complete, the Blue Raiders look ahead to the 2019-20 season in which they return four of five starters from the Regional squad. McEntire also anticipates the return of medical redshirt Ilari Saulo, a former C-USA Freshman of the Year, as well as the addition of four prep golfers already signed to join the squad in the fall.

"Tanner Owens played great golf this week and had a really great season for us. With him leading a solid group of returners I feel like the program is in good position to continue its upward mobility. I look forward to the offseason and getting back onto the course in the fall."