Blue Raiders continue winning ways at Southern Invitational

Tuesday, March 2

Palm Beach, FL

Middle Tennessee

Southern Invitational

3/2/2021 2:29:00 PM | Men's Golf

Results (PDF)

All six Blue Raiders finish week at even par or better

By: @MTAthletics

LAKE WORTH, Fla. – Blue Raider Men's Golf are champions once again, collecting their a third consecutive team title Tuesday afternoon in the Southern Invitational at 21-under par (281-291-271=843).

Middle Tennessee was pushed all day long and responded to the pressure with a 17-under par round – which ranks as the second best round in program history – to hold off second place VCU on the tournament's final day as the two squads battled all round until MT pulled away in the final holes.

All six Blue Raiders finished even par or better on the week, giving Head Coach Mark McEntire six players tied for 16^th or better in the field of 69 golfers.

"What a day for our golf program," Head Coach Mark McEntire exclaimed. "I am so proud of these guys for putting together such a great week. The golf that I saw today was something special!"

True freshman Owen Stamper caught fire on Tuesday, vaulting into a tie for 4^th place with a spectacular round of 7-under par 65 – the third lowest round in MT history – to finish the week 5-under par (74-72-65=211).

Stamper was matched by graduate transfer Connor McKay (71-71-69=211), who has now posted six consecutive rounds under par with two Top 5 finishes to start the spring.

Gavin Clements gave the Blue Raiders three in the Top 10 as he turned in a 2-under par (68-73-73=214) effort on the week.

Tanner Owens (69-76-70=215) and Michael Barnard (71-77-67=215) were two of three golfers to share 13^th place on the week at 1-under par. Barnard bounced back from a 5-over par 77 Monday afternoon to fire a 5-under par 67 on Tuesday.

MT's second true freshman in the lineup, Kevin Jegers, finished with an even par 54-hole scorecard (70-72-74=216) in just his second collegiate tournament after moving to the U.S. from his home country of Estonia just six weeks ago.

"Congratulations to Owen and Mike for a couple of really great rounds today," McEntire added. "The whole team contributed this week to get us another incredible team win. We can't wait to get back out there and tee it up again soon!"

The team titles at the Intercollegiate at The Grove, Raines Company Intercollegiate and Southern Invitational give MT three team wins in a single season and three consecutive team wins for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Middle Tennessee last won four tournaments in a season and four consecutive tournaments in 2007-08, and will chase that feat once again on March 12-14 at the Linger Longer Invitational.