Newcomb Wins OVC Golf Title & Player Of the Year Award

Thursday, April 25

Dickson, Tenn.

Murray State

Greystone GC

Racer coach Eddie Hunt congratulates Patrick Newcomb.

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

Newcomb Wins OVC Golf Title & Player Of the Year Award

4/27/2013 10:52:00 AM | Men's Golf

Heavy rain forces cancellation of the OVC Men's Golf Championship final round in Dickson, Tenn.

Final Results I Gallery I OVC Tournament Wrap

The final round of the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship was rained out Saturday when too much rain fell and made the Greystone Golf Club in Dickson, Tenn., unplayable.

Using the first two rounds scores, Murray State senior Patrick Newcomb wins the medalist award as the best individual in the field of 55 competitors and as voted by the league's head coaches, he was also named OVC Player of the Year.

Newcomb is the OVC Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and becomes the fourth-straight Murray State golfer to win the award (joining his brother Nick in 2010 and Cameron Carrico in 2011). This occasion marks just the second time in OVC history a school has won the honor four-straight years (EKU 1983-1986). Newcomb is the seventh OVC golfer to win the medalist crown in back-to-back years and first since former Tennessee Tech star, and current PGA professional, Scott Stallings won in 2006 and 2007. Overall he is the eighth different Racer to win the awards (a total of 10 times). Newcomb is only the second Racer to win the OVC's top spot in back-to-back years following Billy Graham who was OVC Player of the year in 1962 and 1963,

Newcomb did it with stellar play over 36 holes of the OVC Championship. He carded a 2-under-par 70 Friday in round two after a 3-under 69 in Thursday's first round. His 139 total was one shot ahead of UT Martin's Brendon Caballero who had scores of 69-71=140.

By winning the OVC title, Newcomb gets one of 32 individual spots in the NCAA Men's Golf Championship. The tournament field of 80 teams and individuals will be announced May 6^th. Newcomb will be assigned to one of six regionals that will be played May 16-18. The NCAA Regionals will be held at: Baton Rouge, La., Tallahassee, Fla., Columbus, Ohio, Fayetteville, Ark., Tempe, Ariz. and Pullman, Wash. The National Championship will be held May 28 - June 2 at the Capital City Club/Crabapple Course in Atlanta.

Newcomb is the first MSU player to compete in the NCAA Golf Championship as an individual since Cameron Carrico in 2011. The Racers won the OVC title and competed at the NCAA level in 2010.

The Racers had encouraging play by its pair of freshmen in the OVC Championship. Preston French, who was named to the OVC Newcomer Team, was MSU's next highest finisher with rounds of 81-68=149 for a spot in 29^th place. His 4-under-par 68 was tied for low round of the event. Jared Gosser came up with an under par score in round one with a 70 and finished with a share of 29^th place with French with scores of 70-79=149,

The Racers say goodbye to a trio of seniors in Brown, Newcomb and York. Both outstanding in the classroom, both were leaders in the Murray State program and both played at a high level for the Racers. York was named to the All-OVC Team this season. Brown had a spot in 44^th place with scores of 76-77=153. Hunter York was in 47^th place with rounds of 79-75=154.

The Racers placed fifth place with scores of 294-290=584 and trailed winner Austin Peay with rounds of 284-284=568. Jacksonville State was the runner-up with scores of 289-288=577, while Tennessee Tech and Belmont were third and fourth place with rounds of 295-286=581 and 288-294=582. After the Racers in fifth place, Eastern Kentucky was in sixth place at 586 and the rest of the field included: Morehead State (587), Tennessee State (587), SIUE (592), UT Martin (597) and Eastern Illinois (609).