Racers Find Victory In Season Opener At Capitol Hill
The Murray State men’s golf team cruised to a 17-stroke win at the ASU Spring Kickoff at Capitol Hill Golf Club in Prattville, Ala., on the Senator Course.
The Racers got better as the event unfolded as they punctuated their fourth-straight win in season openers with a final round 2-over-par 300. This after posting a 307 in round one and 305 in round two. The Racers’ 912 total was chased by runner up Western Illinois at 929.
The victory for the Racers is the 36th all-time team win for Coach Eddie Hunt, as he begins his 20th season guiding the Murray State program.
“I am very proud of our team,” Hunt said. “They prepared well and took that confidence to a tough course and performed about as well as any team I’ve had in the first event for a spring season especially considering the conditions. This win really gives us a boost as we go forward into the schedule.”
The Racers were boosted by a 2-3 finish by seniors Connor Coombs and Austin Knight. Coombs placed second on scores of 80-73-75=228 and Knight third on rounds of 73-84-73=230. The Racers ended up placing four of their starters in the top-10 including Quinn Eaton in seventh on scores of 79-77-76=232 and Avery Edwards with a spot in ninth place after scores of 75-76-82=233. Walker Beck was 16th on scores of 87-79-76=242, while solo player Tyler Powell carded scores of 80-78-76=234 to get a 10th place finish.
Coombs and Knight were chasing eventual medalist, Parker Govern of Western Illinois who won the individual title on scores of 78-77-72=227 and a one-shot win over Coombs.
The next challenge for the Racers is the Gulf Coast Collegiate (March 1-2) in Diamondhead, Miss.
Team
1 Murray State 307 305 300 912 +48
Western Illinois 317 308 304 929 +65
Alabama State 318 306 314 938 +74
Chicago State 324 317 318 959 +95
Savannah State 323 320 320 970 +106
Alabama A&M 348 350 350 1046 +182
Individual
1 Murray State +19 F 307 305 300 912
2 Connor Coombs Murray State 80 73 75 228 +12
T3 Austin Knight Murray State 73 84 73 230 +14
T7 Quinn Eaton Murray State 79 77 76 232 +16
9 Avery Edwards Murray State 75 76 82 233 +17
T16 Walker Beck Murray State 87 79 76 242 +26
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10 Tyler Powell * Murray State 80 78 76 234 +18