Purser dominates, helps UCO win San Antonio Shootout ahead of Oklahoma Christian, Southern Nazarene

Complete tournament results here.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 16) — Russ Purser cruised to the individual championship with a dominating performance to lead Central Oklahoma to the team title at the San Antonio Shootout here Tuesday.

Purser had the low round of the tournament for the second straight day, following up Monday’s sizzling opening-round 68 with a one-under-par 71 at the TPC Oaks Course to finish at five-under 139 as the Bronchos shot a final-round 309 in finishing the two-day, 36-hole event with a 609 total.

That was good for a seven-shot victory over Oklahoma Christian.  Southern Nazarne was third in the 13-team field at 619, followed by Dallas Baptist (624) and St. Mary’s (626).

Purser overwhelmed the field in winning by six shots, following up Monday’s four-under 68 with the steady one-under 71.

Eli Armstrong shot a final-round 77 in tying for 11th in the medalist standings at 154 as the only other UCO player to break 80.  Logan Gray shot 80, while Cody Troutman had an 81 and Eric Kline an 83.

Alberto Nava (82), Wesley Jackson (83) and Cody Shore (95) competed as indivduals for the Bronchos.

Senior Kevin Workman and freshman Manuel Hernandez each posted a top-five individual finish for Oklahoma Christian. Hernandez fired a 1-over-par 73 while Workman – playing as an individual – closed with a 75 to seal his best-ever finish with the Eagles. Both had a two-day score of 149, 10 shots behind Purser.

OC’s team score of 309 on Tuesday left the Eagles at 616, seven shots behind UCO but ahead of the four other Heartland Conference squads in the 13-team field. The second-place team finish was the highest by the Eagles in five tournaments during the 2015-16 academic year and their best since taking second last March 1-2 in the Las Vegas Desert Classic.

Zac Schaefer recorded the third top-10 individual finish of his sophomore season with OC, shooting a 74 to close at 152, in a tie for eighth among the 78 players in the event.

Freshman Juan Pallach gave the Eagles’ "A" team a third top-20 finisher, as he tied for 19th at 156 after shooting an 82. Senior Sam Johnston’s 80 left him at 159, tied for 36th, while freshman Alejandro Valenzuela shot his second straight 83 and tied for 67th at 166.

The Eagles’ "B" team tied Nebraska-Kearney for sixth at 627, matching the "A" team’s 309 score on Tuesday. Freshman Ethan Smith led the way, shooting 75 to close at 154, in a tie for 11th. Fellow freshman Casey Rebmann was among those tied with Pallach for 19th after Rebmann shot a 76.

Sophomore Chris Karlovich tied for 26th after shooting a 78 to close at 157. Two other freshmen rounded out the "B" team – Ryan Trousdale tied for 46th at 162 after firing and 80, and Ty Tamura tied for 57th at 164 after posting an 84.

The Eagles’ next tournament will be a return trip to Las Vegas’ Paiute Golf Club for the Desert Classic on Feb. 28-29.

Southern Nazarene shot the lowest round of the day with a 308 to finish in third place.

It was the third consecutive third-place finish for the Crimson Storm. SNU’s Dylan Igo shot a 78 and finished in a tie for eighth at 152. Jacob Prentice had the low round of the day for the Storm at 75 as he was just two strokes back overall of Igo at 154 in a tie for 11th. Ryan Roberts made it three Storm players in the top 20 as he tied for 19th at 156 with a 79 in the final round. Cristian Valderrama took nine strokes off his day one score with a 76 in the second round to finish in a tie for 43rd at 161. Rhett Bechtel matched his 81 from Monday to close at 162 in a tie for 46th.

Rogers State remained in eighth place, improving by two shots in the second round with a team score of 314. Alex Marsh shot 77 to finish alone in 10th, making five birdies in his two rounds.

Eric Moore shot 78-78 to finish tied for 19th, while Aaron Davis shot 78, William Lecky 81 and Ewen Delample 92.

The Hillcats return to the course next Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 22-23) at the St. Mary’s Invitational in San Antonio, Texas at the Dominion Country Club.