El Dorado, Ark. - After posting a round one score of 74 and shooting 78 in round two, sophomore Logan McDonald bounced back in the second and final day of completion at the Arkansas Collegiate to shoot 70, recording his first top-5 career finish in the process. McDonald improved six places from Monday to find a 3rd place finish in the 73-player field with a total score of 222, six over par. McDonald concluded round three play -2 under par after recording four birdies and twelve pars.
McDonald finished in the top ten of players, shooting -2 in par-5 scoring opportunities and +6 in par-4 opportunities. He recorded the most pars in the competition, notching 40 between the three rounds of play. Miller's score of 222 represents his season record, following outings of 225 and 226.
Southern Arkansas ended the tournament in 3rd place of 13 teams with a total of 920 after recording a round of 300 and two rounds of 310, to finish just five strokes back of second place (Harding) while holding off Union University (Tenn.), who finished two strokes behind.
The Mulerider A team recorded the most pars of the competition, notching a collective 154. Southern Arkansas had the second-best record in par-4 scoring opportunities, averaging 4.37. The team also finished in the top half of the 13 teams with their average 3.28 at par 3s and 5.25 at par 5s.
Junior Caleb Miller produced yet another outstanding outing, tying for 4th place after shooting three consecutive sub-80 rounds. His first was completed in 71 strokes, followed by rounds of 75 and 77. Another Mulerider to produce a top-25 finish was junior Connor Harrington, who finished tied for 25th. Harrington shot impressive rounds of 77 and 78, but fell under 80 to shoot an 81 in the third and final round. Junior Brendan Little shot two rounds under 80 (78 and 79) and a round of 82 to find himself tied for 33nd. Freshman Luke Cote recorded rounds of 81 in the first two rounds, but unfortunately completed the third round with an 86 to place him in 60th.
Cote finished even in par-3 scoring opportunities, placing him third of the 73-player field. Miller also notched a personal third place finish with his +5 in par-4 scoring opportunities. Miller additionally had impressive number when it came to par 5s, scoring -2 alongside McDonald. Miller notched nine birdies, the most of the Muleriders, between the three rounds of play while also recording 32 pars. Harrington recorded a total 34 pars himself.
The SAU B team finished play in 12th place, just ten strokes shy of 11th place. The Mulerider B team beat the University of Arkansas at Monticello who finished with a 992, ten strokes over the Mulerider's 982.
Sophomore Alex Gerrard led the B team with a (T)42nd place finish. Gerrard produced round of 79, 82, and 81 to finish with a tournament score of 242. Graduate student Drew Reaux finished tied for 55th following two rounds of 81 and a round of 86 while teammate freshman Will Blake finished tied for 55th with rounds of 88, 79 and 83. Junior Colby Light recorded rounds of 84 and 85 on day one and proceeded to shoot 83 in round three to finish tied for 64th with a score of 252. Light was trailed closely by senior Tim Ryan who recorded rounds of 80, 84, and 88 to finish in 64th place with his cumulative score of 252.
The Mulerider Men's Golf team will resume play in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Tulsa Cup on Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25.
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