CABOT, Ark. - Sophomore
Logan McDonald recorded his third individual top five finish of the season and four of his Southern Arkansas teammates landed inside the tournament field's top 25 as the Muleriders placed second at the Natural State Golf Classic hosted by Harding from the Cypress Creek Golf Club in Cabot. SAU shot 298-302-289 on the par-72, 7,392-yard course to finish at +25 with an 889 and in front of six GAC opponents including No. 49 Harding.
McDonald fired a final round 70 (-2) to finish with a 54-hole total 215, one stroke back of the individual medalist, after posting Monday scores of 72 and 73. The Bryant, Arkansas native led the 59-golfer field in par-4 scoring at -2 and placed among the top 20 golfers in both par-3 scoring (+3) and par-5 scoring (-2).
McDonald was one of only three golfers to record a dozen or more birdies and he tied for the tenth-most made pars in the tournament with 33. McDonald's rounds of 72 and 70 give him seven rounds at par or better for the season; one back of
Caleb Miller for the team lead who notched his eighth of the campaign during Tuesday's action.
Miller improved his score each round as he finished the three-round effort with 77-76-72 for a 225 and a tie for 15th place finish. Miller finished at +3 in par-3 scoring, +9 in par-4 opportunities and along with
Connor Harrington, both led the team in par-5 scoring at -3. Miller paced the club with 36 made pars; the second-most among GAC golfers in the field, and added five birdies.
Luke Cote shot an opening round 75 and improved on a round two 78, by firing a 73 to finish a single stroke back of Miller and in outright 18th place; the highest finish in his young career. Cote birdied eight holes and made par 31 times and his round three 73 is the third score at 73 or better for the Canadian in his collegiate rookie season. He went even on par-3 scoring for the tournament; one of only four golfers to shoot even or better on such holes. Cote joined McDonald at -2 in par-5 scoring.
Harrington and
Brendan Little both finished tied for 25th after shooting 229 for the tournament. Harrington rebounded after an opening round 80 to shoot 75 and 74, while Little posted scores of 74-79-76.
Harrington finished at +4 in par-3 scoring, while making 30 pars and recording six birdies. On his final hole of round two, Harrington eagled the par-5 18 to give SAU ten eagles for the season which matches the single-season program record.
Little produced the second-best par-4 effort for the Muleriders as he finished at +4. He shot +5 on par-3 scoring. Little joined Cote with eight birdies and added 29 made pars to his ledger.
Colby Light competed as an individual and posted rounds of 80-79-80 to go along with 24 pars and six birdies.
As a team, the Muleriders finished tied for the best par-3 scoring in the tournament at +15. SAU's +35 on par 4 holes ranked second as did the group's six-under effort in par-5 scoring. Southern Arkansas recorded 159 pars and 39 birdies to go along with the aforementioned record-tying eagle by Harrington.
The team's round three 289 was its third round this season below 290 and its first since the second round of the season-opening NSU Golf Classic in September. The 889 for the tournament is the team's third-best 54-hole total this season behind the NSU Golf Classic (867) and the DBU Men's Classic (880).
The Muleriders prepare for the Great American Conference Championship on Sunday, April 23 through Tuesday, April 25. Live scoring links will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com
