SWOSU leads, UCO, NSU in pursuit in Southwest Baptist Invite

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Led by Joby Gray’s 2-over 74, Southwestern Oklahoma State grabbed the first-round lead in the Southwest Baptist Invitational Monday at Silo Ridge Country Club.

Eric Kline and Russ Purser both shot 75 and Central Oklahoma stood in fourth place after the first day.

The Bronchos finished with a 307 total after opening-day play at the par-72 Silo Ridge Country Club and trails leader Southwestern Oklahoma by seven strokes heading into Tuesday’s final round.  The Bulldogs led the 16-team event at 300, followed by Central Missouri (302), Washburn (304) and UCO.

Kline and Purser were tied for sixth in the individual standings after their first-day 75s.  The Bronchos also got a 77 from Cody Troutman, while Eli Armstrong shot 80 and Alberto Nava 86.

Northeastern State found itself sandwiched in sixth place after the first round. The tournament is the third MIAA-sanctioned event in 2015-16. The results from the final standings will be used to help determine next week’s conference champion.

The RiverHawks carded a 25-over-par 313 in Monday’s opening round and is one stroke back of Lindenwood for fifth place. Southwest Baptist (314), Lincoln (314), Nebraska-Kearney (315) and Missouri Southern State (316) all sit within three strokes of NSU.

 Junior Tate Williamson was NSU’s low man after the first round, as he landed in a tie for sixth at 3-over 75. True freshman Garrett McDaniel is one stroke back in a tie for 13th, and fellow true freshman Hunter Pennington sits T-36 at 7-over 79.

Senior Brent Williamson shot 11-over 83 to position himself in a tie for 66th, while redshirt freshman Justin Allenback is tied for 77th at 14-over 86.

The final round will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

SBU INVITATIONAL – First Round Results
April 11-12, 2016 at Bolivar, Mo.

(par-72, 6,840-yard Silo Ridge Country Club)

Team Standings

1.        Southwestern Oklahoma State*       300 (+12)

2.        #9 Central Missouri                          302 (+14)

3.        Washburn                                          304 (+16)

4.        #21 Central Oklahoma                     307 (+19)

5.        Lindenwood                                      312 (+24)

6.       Northeastern State                         313 (+25)

T7.     Southwest Baptist                             314 (+26)

           Lincoln                                               314 (+26)

9.        Nebraska-Kearney                            315 (+27)

10.     Missouri Southern State                   316 (+28)

11.     Central Missouri (B)                         318 (+30)

T12.   Missouri Western State                    320 (+32)

           Minnesota State                                 320 (+32)

14.     Evangel                                               328 (+40)

15.     Fort Hays State                                  329 (+41)

16.     Upper Iowa                                        330 (+42)

Rankings reflect the latest Golf Coaches Association of America Division II Top 25 Poll

* = receiving votes in the poll but not ranked in the top 25

Top-5 Standings

T1.     Corey Knight (Missouri Western State)     73 (+1)

           Travis Mays (Central Missouri)                   73 (+1)

           Ron McHenry (Washburn)                          73 (+1)

T4.     Joby Gray (Southwestern Oklahoma State) 74 (+2)

           Teddy Jones (Central Missouri)                  74 (+2)

NSU Individuals

T6.     Tate Williamson                                75 (+3)

T13.   Garrett McDaniel                               76 (+4)

T36.   Hunter Pennington                           79 (+7)

T66.   Brent Williamson                              83 (+11)

T77.   Justin Allenback                                 86 (+14)