Men’s Golf Notches Top 5 Finish to Start Spring

- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor of The Bear Zone/ Sports Columnist
james.andrew.lockwood@student.mercer.edu

            A top five finish for Ryan Blackburn in the season-opening Mardi Gras Invitational helped the Bears claim another top five finish in tournament play.  In fact, Blackburn was tied for the lead heading into the last day of play before a final round 76 (+4) pushed him back to the fifth spot for the tournament.  A late push by the University of New Orleans on the final day of play propelled them to a tournament win, leaping over Mercer and Southeastern Louisiana to grab to the top spot.

            Head coach Andrew Tredway walked away from the tournament with a good feeling about the play of his top five.  “We handled the situation pretty well today.  It was a lot of fun being right in the mix and as long as we can do that throughout the year, we will keep getting experience and keep getting better,” commented Tredway following the three day tournament.  He went on to add, “Ryan Blackburn kept it together really well today.  The Conditions were tough and we were playing the exact same hole locations they use for the PGA Tour event here, but he really gutted it out.  I’m proud of the way Bill [Jones III] played today as well.”

            Jones III shot an impressive 73 (+1) on the final day of play to finish in a tie for 34^th.  His teammates also put up consistent efforts on the three day tournament despite the windy and rainy third round.  Matt Smith finished in a tie for 18^th, second best on the team with a 224 (+8) for the tournament will junior Matt Tribby finished in a tie for 22^nd with just one more stroke at 225 (+9).  Freshmen Devin Patel would finish 36^th shooting a 230 (+14). 

            With the high finish, the Bears look to put together another impressive finish in the Rio Pinar Invitational in Orlando, Florida on February 23^rd and 24^th.  Beat out by New Orleans’s 284 on day three (Mercer shot 300), Tredway and his golfers know they can compete at a high level.  “We are really happy with how we are looking so far,” the head coach added on MercerBears.com.  “We just need to keep working hard.  We have a good system in place for practice so if we keep going through our routine each day, we are going to get where we need to be.  We are excited for this spring,” he added.  That sentiment is echoed by the golf community around Mercer.

 

Final Scores

Place	Name	1st Round	2nd Round	3rd Round	Total
5	Ryan Blackburn	70 (-2)	72 (E)	76 (+4)	218 (+2)
T 18	Matt Smith	75 (+3)	73 (+1)	76 (+4)	224 (+8)
T 22	Matt Tribby	75 (+3)	75 (+3)	75 (+3)	225 (+9)
T 34	Bill Jones III	78 (+6)	78 (+6)	73 (+1)	229 (+13)
T 36	Devin Patel	76 (+4)	74 (+2)	80 (+8)	230 (+14)

Photo courtesy of Robert Matre Photography