Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Tuesday, May 18
Stillwater, OK
Middle Tennessee
vs
NCAA Stillwater Regional
Raiders conclude historic season at NCAA Stillwater Regional
5/18/2021 8:40:00 PM | Men's Golf
STILLWATER, Okla. – A rollercoaster 2020-21 season has come to a close for the Middle Tennessee Men's Golf team on Tuesday as it completed the final round of the NCAA Stillwater Regional at Karsten Creek Golf Club.
It wasn't the desired conclusion for the Blue Raiders as they struggled to a 17-over par round to finish on the final day at 39-over par, but leaves plenty to be optimistic about for the future as MT defeated No. 35 Alabama and three underclassmen gained invaluable experience to carry into 2021-22.
"What a great year this was for our program and these five guys who got to compete in Stillwater this week," Head Coach Mark McEntire said. "We obviously hoped for a better finish this week, but that doesn't tarnish the four team wins and Conference USA Championship we claimed this season in the least.
"We now have some really talented freshmen and sophomores returning next year with some great experience under their belts. The future continues to be very bright for Blue Raider golf!"
True freshmen Kevin Jegers and Owen Stamper did nothing but impress this season and had more brilliant flashes this week against some of the nation's best.
Jegers – who only arrived in Murfreesboro from his home country of Estonia in January – led the Blue Raiders on the week with a 54-hole total of 2-over par (75-69-72=218) and defeated eight of the 16 Top 100 ranked players who competed in Stillwater.
The Blue Raider rookie led the entire field of 75 in Par 5 scoring on the week at 10-under par (4.17) on a course where the average Par 5 length is an eye-opening 578 yards. He was also one of only five players in the field to boast two eagles on the week, three of which were representing No. 4 Oklahoma State on the Cowboys' home course.
Stamper matched Jegers step-for-step in the first 27 holes on Monday before a couple of late missteps in round two and a tough finish to round three saw him finish the week at 15-over par (75-74-82=231).
His impressive 6-under par (4.50) mark in Par 5 scoring ranked eighth best in the field while he also carded an eagle this week – one of only four for the Blue Raiders and 21 in the field across the three rounds.
Michael Barnard was one stroke back of Stamper at the end of the day Tuesday at 16-over par (78-77-77=232) and now looks forward to assuming a leadership role for the Blue Raiders in 2021-22 as a redshirt junior.
Alongside the three underclassmen in Stillwater were a pair of Blue Raider graduate students who closed out their collegiate careers on Tuesday after leading MT to four team wins on the year, its third consecutive C-USA Championship and its fourth consecutive NCAA Regional Appearance.
"We'll send off two decorated seniors after today's round in Tanner Owens and Connor McKay," McEntire added. "Both of them have done a tremendous job for our program and leave it in a very good spot as we continue to build on a great foundation here!"
Tanner Owens claimed the second best score among Blue Raiders in Stillwater, carding a birdie on the final hole of his a career – a daunting 623-yard Par 5 – to finish his second NCAA Regional appearance 13-over par (78-77-74=229).
Playing in his 100th round as a Blue Raider on Tuesday, he concluded an illustrious career that featured six Top 5 finishes, seven Top 10 finishes and 19 Top 20 finishes across his final three seasons.
Connor McKay had a strong start to the week with back-to-back rounds of 2-over par 74 before Karsten Creek took its toll on Tuesday as he turned in a 54-hole scorecard of 16-over par (74-74-84=232).
The graduate transfer stepped in right away in the summer providing immediate leadership on a young Blue Raider team and posted a historic stretch to start the spring of 11 consecutive rounds under par that included two runner-up finishes and a fourth place finish.
After an offseason sure to be full of competitive Blue Raider appearances in amateur events, Middle Tennessee will return to the course as a team next fall to once again begin a C-USA title defense campaign with hopes of also earning a bid to a fifth consecutive NCAA Regional berth and 11th in 14 seasons.
It wasn't the desired conclusion for the Blue Raiders as they struggled to a 17-over par round to finish on the final day at 39-over par, but leaves plenty to be optimistic about for the future as MT defeated No. 35 Alabama and three underclassmen gained invaluable experience to carry into 2021-22.
"What a great year this was for our program and these five guys who got to compete in Stillwater this week," Head Coach Mark McEntire said. "We obviously hoped for a better finish this week, but that doesn't tarnish the four team wins and Conference USA Championship we claimed this season in the least.
"We now have some really talented freshmen and sophomores returning next year with some great experience under their belts. The future continues to be very bright for Blue Raider golf!"
True freshmen Kevin Jegers and Owen Stamper did nothing but impress this season and had more brilliant flashes this week against some of the nation's best.
Jegers – who only arrived in Murfreesboro from his home country of Estonia in January – led the Blue Raiders on the week with a 54-hole total of 2-over par (75-69-72=218) and defeated eight of the 16 Top 100 ranked players who competed in Stillwater.
The Blue Raider rookie led the entire field of 75 in Par 5 scoring on the week at 10-under par (4.17) on a course where the average Par 5 length is an eye-opening 578 yards. He was also one of only five players in the field to boast two eagles on the week, three of which were representing No. 4 Oklahoma State on the Cowboys' home course.
Stamper matched Jegers step-for-step in the first 27 holes on Monday before a couple of late missteps in round two and a tough finish to round three saw him finish the week at 15-over par (75-74-82=231).
His impressive 6-under par (4.50) mark in Par 5 scoring ranked eighth best in the field while he also carded an eagle this week – one of only four for the Blue Raiders and 21 in the field across the three rounds.
Michael Barnard was one stroke back of Stamper at the end of the day Tuesday at 16-over par (78-77-77=232) and now looks forward to assuming a leadership role for the Blue Raiders in 2021-22 as a redshirt junior.
Alongside the three underclassmen in Stillwater were a pair of Blue Raider graduate students who closed out their collegiate careers on Tuesday after leading MT to four team wins on the year, its third consecutive C-USA Championship and its fourth consecutive NCAA Regional Appearance.
"We'll send off two decorated seniors after today's round in Tanner Owens and Connor McKay," McEntire added. "Both of them have done a tremendous job for our program and leave it in a very good spot as we continue to build on a great foundation here!"
Tanner Owens claimed the second best score among Blue Raiders in Stillwater, carding a birdie on the final hole of his a career – a daunting 623-yard Par 5 – to finish his second NCAA Regional appearance 13-over par (78-77-74=229).
Playing in his 100th round as a Blue Raider on Tuesday, he concluded an illustrious career that featured six Top 5 finishes, seven Top 10 finishes and 19 Top 20 finishes across his final three seasons.
Connor McKay had a strong start to the week with back-to-back rounds of 2-over par 74 before Karsten Creek took its toll on Tuesday as he turned in a 54-hole scorecard of 16-over par (74-74-84=232).
The graduate transfer stepped in right away in the summer providing immediate leadership on a young Blue Raider team and posted a historic stretch to start the spring of 11 consecutive rounds under par that included two runner-up finishes and a fourth place finish.
After an offseason sure to be full of competitive Blue Raider appearances in amateur events, Middle Tennessee will return to the course as a team next fall to once again begin a C-USA title defense campaign with hopes of also earning a bid to a fifth consecutive NCAA Regional berth and 11th in 14 seasons.
Players Mentioned
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