WICHITA FALLS – After waiting an extra day to get on the course at Weeks Park Golf Course, A&M-Commerce made it count by finishing fourth out of 17 teams at the Midwestern State Invitational. The Lions shot a 24-over 312 in the only round of the tournament, notching its second top-five finish of the season.
Sophomore Chantry McMahan once again led A&M-Commerce, tying for fifth in the overall standings with a 1-over 73, one stroke back of four other players who shot an even-par 72. It marks the fourth top-10 finish of the year for McMahan as she posts her third-lowest round of the season.
McMahan finished five shots better than fellow sophomore Sara Diazand six strokes ahead of Haley Greenas Diaz notches a 6-over 78 and Green posted a 7-over 79. Chelsea McCoyand Holly Jenkinstied for 49th in the individual standings, rounding out the A&M-Commerce scorecard with a 10-over 82.
The tournament was shortened to just 18 holes after heavy storms in the Wichita Falls area forced the cancellation of day one, and the Lions made the most of it. A&M-Commerce held off host Midwestern State, which finished fifth with a 26-over 314, by two shots and finished four strokes better than both Northeastern State and Dallas Baptist (28-over 316).
West Texas A&M, which finished second at last week’s Texoma Chevy Dealers Lion Intercollegiate, took home the abbreviated team title with a 10-over 298, defeating Central Oklahoma (14-over 302) by four strokes to finish first. Newman placed third overall with a 22-over 310, finishing two strokes better than fourth-place A&M-Commerce.
A&M-Commerce will now have a couple of weeks off before returning to action April 9- 10, competing at the Doc Housewright Invitational in Granbury.
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Lion men struggle in Wichita Falls
After enduring heavy storms that washed out the first two rounds of the Midwestern State Invitational, A&M-Commerce had a sluggish performance on Tuesday, shooting a 32-over 316 over the final round at the Wichita Falls Country Club, finishing 17th out of 19 teams.
Sophomore Patrick Russo and freshman Marcus Sanna led the Lions as the duo each posted a 7-over 78 to tie for 39th in the individual standings. Both players found their groove on the front nine holes with Russo notching a 1-over 37 and Sanna posting a 2-over 38.
Freshman Kyle Middletonfinished third on the A&M-Commerce scorecard, one stroke back of his teammates with an 8-over 79 with fellow freshman Cade Grimmcarding a 10-over 81. Jarret Martinshook off a shaky back nine, shooting a 3-over 39 over the front nine to round out the Lion scorecard with a 12-over 83.
A&M-Commerce ended the rain-shortened tournament one stroke behind Henderson State (31-over 315) and four shots back of Lone Star Conference rival Incarnate Word (28-over). A&M-Commerce also came within a few strokes of making a big jump up the standings, finishing five strokes back of four different schools tied for 11th with a 27-over 311.
Arkansas Tech and St. Edward’s ended the 18-hole condensed tournament tied for first with a 14-over 298, with Arkansas Tech winning the tiebreaker to take home the team title. Lone Star Conference opponents took up the remainder of the top five with Cameron and host Midwestern State (16-over 300) tying for third followed by a fifth-place finish for West Texas A&M (20-over 304).
Up next for A&M-Commerce is a trip to Nevada to compete in the Spring Break Collegiate April 2-3.