Golf Putts in Third Place Finish

The University of Central Oklahoma’s men’s golf team capped off their fall schedule by finishing third in the Miami Intercollegiate this past week.

The Bronchos closed with a 289 on Tuesday to finish with a 54-hole total of 853 at the Trump National Doral Golf Club.

The 10-team tournament was won by the host, Nova Southeastern University, at 842.  Saint Leo University was next with 849, followed by UCO, then Columbus State University with 858.

 

This was UCO’s best finish of the fall season and head coach Josh Fosdick said he is proud of how far the team has come.

“I’m impressed by how this team has worked from kind of a place of uncertainty to a place of determination,” Fosdick said. “They know where they want to be in May and it’s not heading home for summer.”

Cody Troutman led UCO on Tuesday with a two-under-par 68, followed by Holden Crago, who also shot under par at 69. Blake Murray contributed a 74, while Joe Lemieux and Yannic Oppenheimer both shot 78.

Murray had the best individual finish for the Bronchos, shooting 208 total and tying for third in the individual race after entering the final round with a three-shot lead. Saint Leo’s Alberto Castagnara shot a three-under 67 to place first at 204.

Blake Murray has the individual lead and @UCOMensGolf is 2nd in the team standings after first-day play at the Miami Intercollegiate. https://t.co/MZiqOr8E53 pic.twitter.com/WQCRFS2VNI

— UCO Bronchos (@ucoathletics) October 22, 2018

Murray has frequently led the Bronchos in individual standings. Fosdick said he is looking forward to seeing what the junior will do in the spring.

“His ‘purpose’ for the year is to finish with a stroke average under par. If he accomplishes that feat, he will drag the rest of us along for a fun ride,” Fosdick said.

Crago’s final-round 69 helped him tie for seventh at even-par 210. Troutman opened the tournament with rounds of 72 and 83 on Monday before coming back on Tuesday to shoot 68, knocking off 15 shots.

Fosdick credited Troutman for being able to overcome some swing deficiencies from Monday in the final round.

“He showed a tremendous amount of fortitude to play the way he did,” Fosdick said.  “He mentally did not allow himself to play bad again.”

With the fall schedule concluding, Fosdick said the team will be using the offseason to look into the stats and find where each player can improve.

“Our focus is always about trying to find those little cracks in the game that we need to shore up. One shot from each guy would make us a top-ten team,” Fosdick said.

UCO will have the rest of 2018 off before opening their spring schedule in St. Augustine, Florida at the Spring Kickoff on Feb. 11-12.