Racers Manage Windy OVC Round One

Round 1 Results I Photo Gallery I Live Scoring I OVC Tournament Central I OVC Program

The Murray State men's golf team held a share of third place after the first 18 holes of the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Championship at The Shoals Golf Club in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Duncan McCormick carded an even-par 72 and helped the Racers to a team 297 as they enter Tuesday's second round seven shots off leader Jacksonville State at 290. UT Martin fired a 293 and was in second place.

In extremely breezy conditions and speedy greens, the Fighting Joe course at The Shoals played difficult on the links-style layout along the Tennessee River.

McCormick made the turn with a 3-over-par 39, but shot the second-best back nine in the field of 3-under-par 33. His inward nine featured an eagle at the par-5 12^th hole and birdies at the 15^th and 16^th holes. McCormick is chasing the two players that managed to break par in the first round. UTM's Hunter Richardson was in first place with a 3-under-par 69 and Daniel Pico of Jacksonville State carded a 70.

Murray State's Jared Gosser fired a 74 and was in ninth place, while Preston French was in 16^th place with a 76. Matthew Zakutney had a spot in 26^th place with a 76 and Brock Simmons was in 35^th after a 78.

Defending champ Eastern Kentucky was in fourth place at 298, while Austin Peay was in fifth place at 300 and Belmont in sixth place at 301. The rest of the field included Morehead State (308), Eastern Illinois (309), Tennessee State (309), Tennessee Tech (313) and SIUE (314).

The Racers played well enough to join JSU and UTM in the final wave of tee times in Tuesday's second round. Brock Simmons will hit the Racers' first shot at 10:30 a.m. He's followed by Matt Zakutney (10:40 a.m.), Preston French (10:50 a.m.), Jared Gosser (11 a.m.) and Duncan McCormick (11:10 a.m.).

Round One Notes
Duncan McCormick played a brilliant back nine of 3-under-par 33, which was second in the field of 55 players only to UTM's Hunter Richardson who had a 32. McCormick 17^th and 18^th even when many teams were giving up shots on these two holes. UTM's Richardson went birdie-birdie.

The Racers had two of the three eagles in the field today as Gosser also recorded one at the par-5 7^th hole.

How difficult was play in round one? The wind was surely a factor both on balls off the club and balls on the green. The field of 55 players averaged 76.55 today, which was nearly a stroke more than last year's round one average of 75.6. More wind is in store for round two according to the forecast.

What a difference a year makes. The Racers carded a 297 a year ago on the Fighting Joe course and was in seventh place, 12 shots off leader Belmont at 289. The same 297 today makes the Racers a third place team and a manageable seven shots off the lead of UTM at 290.

For the OVC Championship, the Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals is playing to a par-72 (36-36) and to a length of 7,258 yards.

Monday evening, the OVC teams will get together at The Shoals Clubhouse for the annual awards banquet when All-OVC honors will be announced. Check GoRacers.com for news of the honors that the Racers will receive.

Murray State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Preston French

Jared Gosser

Duncan McCormick

Brock Simmons

Matthew Zakutney

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