[September 12, 2006]

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Southern Arkansas officially opened its 2006-07 men’s golf season Monday and Tuesday in the Ouachita Baptist Invitational at Belvedere Country Club. It wasn’t the start the Muleriders envisioned, shooting rounds of 337 and 343 to finish last (680) in the 10-team field.

Arkansas Tech ran away from the competition, posting a 592 (299-293) to finish 13 strokes ahead of second-place Delta State. Only three strokes separated the third through fifth place teams as Arkansas Tech’s B team shot a 619 (311-308), Harding scored 620 (311-309), and Henderson State had a 621 (303-318). OBU’s B team outdid it’s A team, 636 (324-312) to 638 (318-320), for sixth place, Central Baptist College (322-318, 640) was eighth, and Arkansas-Morrilton Community College (335-320, 655) was ahead of SAU in ninth.

Jarred Carlyle (74-70, 144) of Arkansas Tech was four strokes better than teammate Luke Calcatera (75-73, 148) to claim the individual medalist honor. Harding’s Austin Osburn (75-73, 144) tied Calcatera for second, and ATU’s Bryan Thom (73-77, 150) and Scott Strasner (79-71, 150), and HSU’s Ben Cuzen (70-80, 150) had a three-way tie for fourth.

Southern Arkansas’ Josh Black shot rounds of 83 and 85 for a 168 to finish 41st. Patrick Kothny (83-87, 170) was 43rd, Zac Hoglund (84-88, 172) and Justin Moore (88-84, 172) tied at 49th, and Eric Moya (87-87, 174) rounded out the Muleriders’ scoring in 52nd place. Derek Fortenberry (109-117, 226) also competed for SAU.

Southern Arkansas will compete in the Harding Bison Fall Classic at Red Apple Inn Country Club in Heber Springs on September 25-26.