No. 2 men fall one stroke short

    After leading their competitors on the road to the program’s first conference title since 1991, the Racer men let the win slip away to Austin Peay University by one stroke in the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Golf Championship.
    The team finished the tournament in Muscle Shoals, Ala. at The Shoals Golf Course Wednesday, with rounds of 289-296-293=878. Murray State was unable to keep out of reach of the Govs in their final round comeback, which was interrupted by two rain delays. APSU shot rounds of 298-292-287 for a total of 877.
    “Overall, we had a great tournament and were in theposition to win,” Head Coach Eddie Hunt said. “We played good in the last day, but Austin Peay had a hot streak in the last nine.”
    Junior Jared Wolfe took the No. 4 spot among the field of 45 competitors and was named to the OVC All-Tournament Team after recording rounds of 72-75-70=217.
    Tying for the No. 7 spot, junior Chris Griffin and lone senior Mitchell Moore shot scores of 72-73-76=221 and 72-75-74=221, respectively  Nick Newcomb placed 13th with scores of 73-73-77=223.
    Murray State standout, sophomore Cameron Carrico was disqualified in the second round because he signed the incorrect scorecard after drawing a previous penalty. Carrico recorded a 73 in the first round and a final round of 71. The penalty cost the Racers a 2-stroke lead heading into the final round, making the difference in the tournament results.
    “It came down to the last part and we came up a little short,” Hunt said. “But overall, we had a great year You always want to win the OVC because it tops the year for you. But I think winning five tournaments and placing second in five of 12 tournaments this season shows we had a good year.”
    Murray State’s Hunt was named the OVC Coach of the Year.
    “Honestly, I was surprised,” Hunt said. “Since I’ve been coaching in the OVC, the Coach of the Year has always been from the winning team I think it shows the other coaches thought we were the best team throughout the season.
    Elizabeth Johnson can be reached at
elizabetha.johnson@murraystate.edu.