Stags shoot low against stiff competition at TMU Invitational
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Only seven strokes separated the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's golf team from the leader, Oklahoma Baptist, in The Master's University Spring Invitational. At just 9-over in the tournament, the Stags placed fifth behind top-25 competition from the NAIA.
The three-round tournament was held at Robinson Ranch Golf Club in Santa Clarita, Calif. Most teams played 36 holes on Monday to leave just one full round to finish on Tuesday. The par 70 course played short on the first day, but then a few hundred yards were added to the back nine and the wind picked up, increasing scores on day two. The course itself remained challenging as players were forced to hit fairways lest their balls end up in the desert surrounding.
CMS was led by a pair of freshmen that both finished under par. Harrison Brenner (CMC) and Austin Long (CMC) each put up scores in the 60s in the first two rounds. Head coach Bim Jollymour noted, "They didn't make many mistakes and played with impressive consistency." Their highest scores on the weekend were 72 and 73 respectively. Brenner and Long finished in a tie for 11th, only bested by one player from the SCIAC in Conor Rooney from Pomona-Pitzer who finished at 4-under.
Also shooting under par in the tournament was junior Johnny Brandt (CMC). His 69 in the first round counted toward the team's 275, but then the 74 on the next 18 holes removed him from the team scoring. Brandt still finished in the top half of the field in a tie for 38th at just 10-over in three rounds.
Once again, junior Matt Shuman (CMC) demonstrated his consistency with 70-73-72 in the tournament. Junior Jackson Zepf (CMC) also hovered around par over the first two rounds at 70 and 72. CMS' lone individual competitor, sophomore Alex Wrenn (CMC) finished in the top half of the field, improving eight places from the first day to land in a tie for 33rd at 9-over.
CMS paired up with Cal Lutheran and the host, The Master's University, on the first day. The Kingsmen finished eighth in SCIAC #1 last weekend but then came back in the TMU Invite to beat both Pomona and Whittier, the other SCIAC programs in the competition. After wrapping up the first two rounds in third place, the Stags were grouped with Oklahoma Baptist and Victoria, who are ranked No. 11 and 18 in the NAIA respectively. The individual winner, Lawren Rowe from Victoria, shot a staggering 7-under.
Next up for the Stags is the annual trip to Jekyll Island for the Collegiate Invitational on Mar. 17-19. With many options available for the top five spots from the talented team, Jollymour is looking to the intra-squad competition this week to make the final decision.
By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director
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