Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Loyola Intercollegiate
Blue Raiders, Jegers win second straight titles
2/22/2022 3:58:00 PM | Men's Golf
Estonian sophomore sets 54-hole program record for second time in as many weeks.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Middle Tennessee withstood a late push from Utah Valley to hang onto its lead in the Loyola Intercollegiate, coming away with a one-stroke win Tuesday at Palm Valley Golf Club. Kevin Jegers set a program record with a 54-hole score of 200 (-16), breaking his own mark set just nine days earlier, to win his second individual title in as many tournaments.
Middle Tennessee matched its first-round score of 277 (-11) to finish at 835 (-29), tying the fifth-lowest three-round team score in program history. The win gives the Blue Raiders two straight team titles after winning the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational on Feb. 13.
"Great win for the team," head coach Mark McEntire said. "Happy to get the second victory of the spring. Congrats to Kevin Jegers as he broke the record last week and again this week. The guy is a stud. We've got a couple weeks off, but we look forward to getting back in action at the Schenkel middle of March."
After starting the day strong with birdies on each of his first three holes, Jegers carded his lowest round of the tournament Tuesday with a 65 (-7), the lowest round of any individual in the tournament. He came one stroke shy of his season-low and two strokes off the program record while notching seven birdies and 11 pars. The Tallinn, Estonia, native holds a stroke average of 64.5 in final rounds this spring.
Michael Barnard finished in the top 10 for the second time in his last three tournaments, placing sixth at 209 (-7). He picked up four birdies, coming in at 71 (-1) for the day on his way to his fourth straight top-15 finish.
Owen Stamper earned his second consecutive top-10 finish, wrapping up the event at 212 (-4). He carded a third-round score of 71 (-1) with the help of four birdies.
Nick Wolf was the Blue Raiders' biggest mover of the day, rising from a tie for 27th to a tie for 18th after carding a 70 (-2) Tuesday. He finished the event at 214 (-2).
Jack Heath rounded out the MT lineup with a score of 73 (+1) to finish the event tied for 73rd at 224 (+8).
Connor Daly, playing as an individual, finished the tournament in a tie for 38th at 217 (+1) after recording a 71 (-1) on Tuesday. Also playing as individuals, Gavin Clements tied for 51st at 220 (+4), and Mattias Varjun tied for 84th at 227 (+11). Varjun carded two eagles Tuesday to finish the round at 72 (E).
Middle Tennessee finished the tournament at 1-under on par 4 holes, the only team below par on those holes, and tied Utah Valley for the tournament lead on par 5s at 39-under. MT's 64 birdies were the second-most in the field.
Jegers' score of 6-under on par 4 holes was the best in the field. He finished third overall with 17 birdies, followed by Clements and Stamper with 15 apiece.
MT is back in action March 18-20 at Georgia Southern's Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga.
Players Mentioned
