Blue Raiders tie for second as Stamper, Barnard finish in top 10

Tuesday, October 3

Madison, Wis.

Middle Tennessee

Badger Invitational

10/3/2023 3:34:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: Thomas Donley, MT Athletics

Full Results

Fitchburg, Wis. — Middle Tennessee men's golf held the lead with two holes left to play in the third round of Wisconsin's Badger Invitational, but the Blue Raiders settled for a tie for second, one stroke behind Florida Gulf Coast. Owen Stamper and Michael Barnard finished in the top 10 individually.

The par-3 17th hole presented problems for the Blue Raiders Tuesday. The team recorded three bogeys and a double bogey to see its lead dwindle, finishing with a score of 286 (-2) for the round and 852 (-12) for the tournament.

Stamper recorded six birdies in the third round on his way to a score of 68 (-4). He finished the tournament with a 54-hole score of 209 (-7), one stroke shy of his second title of the season.

Barnard shot a 72 (E) Tuesday, tying for ninth at 212 (-4). He carded three birdies to bring his total to 11 for the tournament.

Markus Varjun tied for 30th individually at 216 (E) after a round of 73 (+1). He was 4-under through 13 holes, but a bogey on 14 and back-to-back double bogeys on 16 and 17 put him back over par.

Gavin Clements tied for 35th with a score of 217 (+1). He carded a 73 (+1) in the third round, going 1-under on the back nine.

Carter Maneth finished in a tie for 61st at 223 (+7).

By the Numbers
6 – MTSU erased a 6-stroke deficit at the start of the round to take the lead before it slipped away.
4 – Stamper overtook sole possession of fourth place in program history with 52 career rounds of par or better.
13 – Stamper led the Blue Raiders with 13 birdies.

Coach's Comments: Mark McEntire
"This one will sting for a few days. We played great all day and just did not get it done down the stretch. This is the third week in a row that we have been in contention. We just need to keep putting ourselves in that position. We have a very good team. Congrats to Owen on another great week! Michael had another solid tournament, and I thought we played solid overall."

Tournament Notes

Florida Gulf Coast won the tournament with a score of 851 (-13).
South Alabama's Joshua Hill won the individual title at 208 (-8).
The Blue Raiders next hit the course Oct. 29-31 at Charleston Southern's Daniel Island Intercollegiate.

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