Smith & Racers Place 3rd At MSU Invitational

Monday, September 22

Murray, Ky.

Murray State

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

9/23/2014 8:56:00 AM | Men's Golf

Results I Gallery

Jordan Smith provided an amazing finish on Tuesday to claim the third place trophy at the Murray State Invitational at Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Ky.

Smith, a senior for the Racers, was in position to maybe win MSU's home-course event with a great final round. However, as he reached the final two holes, Smith's round had practically ground to a halt. Miller Memorial does offer a reprieve with a par-5/par-3 finish. If played correctly, these two finishing holes can turn a round around, which is exactly what Smith pulled off. He eagled the par-5 17^th and nearly holed out on the par-3 18^th for a final round 69. His scores of 68-69-69=206 earned third place.

"I didn't see his tee shot on 18, but I understand that he almost made a hole-in-one," said Racer Coach Eddie Hunt. "We had the pin on 18 tucked back right on that small tier and he still made a two. I'm really proud of Jordan and how he played this week."

Hunt's best player right now has recorded two top-5 finishes to start the fall portion of the 2014-15 season. Smith placed fourth at the event in Edwardsville, Ill., last week.

"There is not a more deserving player at Murray State right now than Jordan Smith," Hunt added. "He has worked hard for the last three years on his game and his goal is to be an OVC champion and I think he has put himself in a position to do that by the way he's working at his game."

Smith's excellent play helped the Racers to a third place finish with scores of 292-290-287=869. Alabama State was the winner of the 54-hole event with a final score of 859, ahead of runner up Wright State at 865.

Murray State also got good play from a pair of players from their second team. T.J. Ferry fired rounds of 70-73-72=215 to get a share of eighth place, while Duncan McCormick placed 13^th in the field of 75 players with rounds of 71-77-69=217.

The MSU second team placed 11^th in the event with scores of 299-302-298=899.

Other MSU scores from the Racers' first team included Brock Simmons in 22^nd place with scores of 72-76-73=221 and Preston French who shared 22^nd place with his teammate after scores of 76-73-72=221. Matthew Zakutney placed 30^th after rounds of 76-74-73=223 and Jared Gosser placed 39^th with scores of 79-74-73=226.

Other MSU scores from the second team included Daniel Taylor in 58^th place with scores of 79-76-79=234 and Myles Morrissey in 60^th place with rounds of 79-76-79=234. Nick Choate placed 66^th with scores of 80-77-81=238.

Alabama State's Francis Berthiaume was the medalist with scores of 67-66-69=202, ahead of teammate Branson Ferrier at 205. MSU's Smith was in third place (206), with Nick Scott of Wright State (209) and Eastern Kentucky's Nick Riggs (211) making up the All-Tournament Team.

UT Martin placed behind the Racers in fourth place at 872, while EKU was fifth at 874. Tennessee State (885), Missouri Baptist (885), Morehead State (889), John A. Logan (895), Northern Kentucky (897), MSU B (899), NKU B (912) and Christian Brothers (913).

The Racers' next challenge is the Cardinal Cup in Simpsonville, Ky. (Sept. 29-30) at the UL Golf Club.