Junior Blake Worden captured medalist honors en route to leading the Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s golf team to a second place finish at the Dustdevil Early Spring Invitational on Tuesday in Laredo, Texas.
The Rowlett, Texas native shot a final round 69 for a 36-hole total of 210 and six-under par for a six-stroke victory over Shane Pearce of Texas Pan-American. Worden led the field with three-under par play on par 3 holes and even play on par 4 holes; in addition to 12 birdies and an eagle to go along with 33 pars. It is the first individual tournament title for him.
Junior teammate Pinkey Hartline posted the best finish of his career with a fifth-place finish. He finished the two-day, 54-hole tournament with a six-over par 220. Hartline was two-over par on par 4 holes and he recorded nine birdies throughout the 54 holes.
The University of Texas-Pan American took home team title honors with an 876 (300-278-298) to edge out the Lions by nine strokes. A&M-C shot the best round as a team in Tuesday’s final round with a 293 and total of 885 (299-293-293).
A&M-C sophomore Brian Pearce tied for 16th with a 229 (76-77-76) and teammates Danny Jun and Andy Carter tied for 19th with a 232. Jun shot 36 pars over the course of the 54-hole tournament for the second most in the 34-person field.
Next, the Lions will host the Pepsi Crawford/Wade Invitational at Tanglewood Golf Resort in Pottsboro, Texas, on March 2-3.
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In his season debut, junior Blake Worden is tied for first with Shane Pearce of Texas Pan-American to put the Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s golf in third place after the opening day of the Dustdevil Early Spring Invitational.
The Rowlett, Texas, native shot a one-under par 71 on the first 18 and came back to shoot a two-under par 70 on the second 18 for a 36-hole total of 141.
Pearce shot a 76 on the first 18 and blistered the course for a seven-under par 65 on the second 18 to share the first day lead with Worden.
Worden is second in the field with nine birdies and leads the field with three-under play on par 3 holes.
Joining Worden in the top 10 is junior Pinkey Hartline, who is tied for eighth along with two others after a 78 on the first 18 and a 70 on the second 18 for a 36-hole total of 148.
Lions’ sophomore Brian Pearce and freshman Danny Jun are separated by one stroke, shooting a 153 (76-77) and 154 (74-80), respectively. Graduate student Andy Carter is tied for 20th after posting a 156 (80-76) to round out the A&M-Commerce lineup.
Carter shot eight birdies through the first 36 holes, tied for the third most in the field.