Strong End to Fall Season at Western New Mexico Invite

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Stags closed the Western New Mexico University Fall Intercollegiate tied for 10th, shooting 296 in the third round for a total score of 876 in the three-day tournament.

Austin Long (CMC) carded a two-over, 74 on Tuesday to finish the tournament tied for 14th-place. Long was the highest finisher for the Stags with a three-under, 213 across the three rounds.

The Stags entered the final round four-over as a team and in 10th-place overall. Despite an eight-over on the final day, the Stags stayed in a tie for 10th amongst a Division II heavy field. Cal Sate - San Marcos won the tournament with a team-score of 13-under (851). They originally tied with Texas A&M - Commerce, but San Marcos' non-counting score was lower and they took the tie-breaker from Commerce.

On Tuesday, Matt Shuman (CMC) and Harry Brenner (CMC) led the team with rounds of 73 (+1). Starting on the eighth hole, Shuman was Mr. Consistent on Tuesday. The senior logged three-straight pars before putting a birdie on the card on the 434-yard, par-four 11th. Four more pars followed before a slight hiccup, with two bogies on a three hole stretch. Shuman rebounded nicely and pared the final seven holes of his round to finish at one-over.

The 73 for Shuman was his best round in the tournament and he finished in a tie for 60th at nine-over.

Playing as an individual, Brenner shot a one-over, 73 in the third round. Brenner was three-over for a majority of his round, after four bogies and a birdie in his opening eight holes. He carded back-to-back birdies on the the par-five 13th and par-three 14th (his 16th and 17th holes on the day to finish at one-over.

All three of Brenner's rounds for the tournament were under 74 and he finished in a tie for 28th at 219 (+3).

Long and Mason Chiu (CMC) were both just a stroke behind Shuman and Brenner with 74s (+2) on Tuesday. Long made five birdies on the day, but countered the red numbers with a pair of doubles and three bogies to finish at two-over. As mentioned, Long was the highest finisher for the Stags, thanks in large part to a six-under, 66 in the second round. In the tournament, Long played the par-fives at six-under (tied for sixth in the field).

Long also carded a total of 14 birdies in three rounds, placing him seventh in the field in birdies made.

After rounds of 73 and 81 on Monday, Mason Chiu fired a 74 on Tuesday to finish the tournament in a tie for 73rd with a score of 228 (+12). Chiu put two birdies on his card, including one on his final hole of the day on the 206-yard, par-three seventh.

Josh Hunter (HMC) and Jonathan Shaw (CMC) rounded out the scoring for CMS on Tuesday with loops of 75 (+3) and 76 (+4), respectively. Hunter had one of the more eventful days on the course. The freshman started his day with a pair of birdies, but was quickly back to even with a double on the par-four ninth. He dropped a shot on both the 10th and 11th holes, but worked his way back to red numbers with birdies on the 13th, 16th, 18th, and 1st holes. A tough end to his round stung Hunter and he finished with a three-over, 75 on Tuesday. On the day, Hunter put six pars, six birdies, three bogies, and three doubles on his card.

Hunter finished the tournament in a tie for 40th with a three-day score of 222 (+6).

Jonathan Shaw finished his tournament with a four-over, 76 in the third round. The senior carded four birdies but a triple-bogey and a pair of doubles over a six-hole stretch early in his round pushed him over-par on Tuesday. Shaw finished the Invitational with a seven-over, 223 to tie for 46th in the tournament.

With the completion of Tuesday's round, the Stags have finished their fall season. After stepping away from competitive golf for the next four months, CMS will be back in action on Feb. 17-18 in the SCIAC #1 at Olivas Golf Links.