Murray State University Athletics
Weather Warriors - Racers Increase Lead At OVC Championship
4/27/2010 10:01:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Murray State Racers will carry a 12-shot lead into the final round of the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship after they posted a 295 Tuesday in tough weather conditions at GreyStone GC in Dickson, Tenn.
The field of 10 teams and 45 competitors were greeted by intermittent showers, gusty winds, and at one point hail when the second of two storms rolled across the course. The 48 degree temperature made it a rough day to get around the par-72 layout, playing 6,858 yards.
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The Racers' two-round total of 581 has them in good position to claim the school's first OVC title since 1991.
Austin Peay fired a 297 and stands in second place at 593, while Jacksonville State shares third place with Morehead State at 594. The Gamecocks had a 299, while the Eagles carded a 293.
"I was extremely pleased with the round today, especially when you factor in the conditions we had," MSU Head Coach Eddie Hunt. "We had a little bit of everything, wind, rain, hail and cold...it was really something out there today."
The players were called off the course from 11:30 a.m. to noon when the first harsh weather rolled through, but they played through the second one which hit around 1 p.m.
The Racers started the day eight shots clear of their nearest challenger and they ended it with a 12-shot lead.
Leading the way for the Racers is 2008 OVC Champion Nick Newcomb who shot the low round of the event with a three-under-par 69 to grab the medalist lead at 73-69=142.
"The round Nick shot today was just super," Hunt said. "With good weather that would've been something like a 64 or a 65. It was an amazing round of golf in tough weather."
Jared Wolfe (73-72=145) made an eagle at the 17th hole and stands in second place with Austin Peay's Eric Barnes (71-74=145).
Chris Griffin (71-75=146) is in fifth place, with MSU's Cameron Carrico (70-79=149) in 16th place. Patrick Newcomb (72-79=151) is in 23rd place.
Murray State is looking for their fourth league title and first since 1991; MSU also won the OVC trophy in 1971 and 1987.
However, the Racers have finished second in each of the last two seasons and lost by one shot in 2009 to Austin Peay.
"Well we've been here before," Hunt added. "Our guys are really excited to play tomorrow, but by no means are we thinking we've got this thing won, we have to go out and play well tomorrow."
The Racers' first tee time Wednesday has Patrick Newcomb teeing off at 9:40 a.m., while the 9:50 a.m. tee time is reserved for Cameron Carrico. MSU's Chris Griffin begins play at 10 a.m., with Jared Wolfe at 10:10 a.m. and Nick Newcomb at 10:20 a.m.
MSU will be paired with Austin Peay and Morehead State.
Live stats are available at OVCSports.TV.
