Fall Season Comes to an End for Hilltopper Golf

Monday, November 4

Gulf Shores, Ala.

All Day

Western Kentucky University

USA Fall Beach Classic

11/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf

Nov. 6, 2002

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University men's golf team saw their fall season come to an end Nov. 4-5 at the USA Fall Beach Classic with a 13th-place finish. Freshman Robby Shaw (Louisville, Ky. - St. Xavier) led the way for the Hilltoppers with a top-20 finish, compliments of a career-low 67 in the second round.

Senior captain John Mullendore (Bowling Green, Ky. - Bowling Green HS) tied for 48th place with a 223 three-day total. Seniors Jared Topmiller (Central City, Ky. - Muhlenberg North HS) and Adam Cox (Hardinsbug, Ky. - Breckinridge Co. HS) tied for 57th place with a 10-over par, 226 for the event.

The tournament, hosted by South Alabama, took place at the Golf Shores Golf Club and featured seven teams ranked in the top-100 by GolfWeek.com. The University of Kentucky took high team honors by one stroke over Jacksonville State. South Alabama's Gareth Maybin earned medalist honors with a 12-under par, 204 total.

The high level of competition played throughout the fall season will benefit the Hilltoppers as they make a run at the Sun Belt Conference Championship in the spring. Having faced Big 10 opponents 19 times during the fall, the Hilltoppers have hardly shied away from big programs, including NCAA Champion Minnesota.

"In college golf you either take on the big boys or you stay home," said head coach Brian Tirpak.

In the spring, the Hilltoppers will host their fourth annual Kauai Collegiate Cup at Princeville Golf Resort in Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii. With the fall tune-up out of the way, the Toppers are now setting their sights on the SBC Championship.

"We're finding our identity as a team and it will pay off come Sun Belt time," said Tirpak. "The last three years we have shown that we are a contender. Now it's time to take it to the next level and win the SBC."

USA Fall Beach Classichosted by South Alabama on Nov. 4-5, 2002Gulf Shores Golf Club, Gulf Shores, Ala. (6500 yards, Par 72)Team Scores    1. Kentucky.....................281-278-286 - 845  2. Jacksonville State...........285-274-288 - 847  3. Southeastern Louisiana.......282-280-286 - 848  4. Southern Mississippi.........280-289-282 - 851  5. Memphis......................291-284-284 - 859  6. South Alabama................291-279-290 - 860  7. Central Florida..............289-283-293 - 865  8. Middle Tennessee.............285-282-299 - 866  9. Arkansas State...............297-281-291 - 869 10. Tulane.......................296-286-289 - 871 11. South Florida................288-288-295 - 871     Oral Roberts.................289-292-292 - 873 13. Western Kentucky.........307-289-293 - 889 

 Individual Leaders 1. Gareth Maybin, South Alabama 71-64-69 - 204 2. John Holmes, Kentucky 71-67-70 - 208 3. Patrick Williams, Middle Tenn. St. 67-69-73 - 209    Nick Mackay, Jacksonville St. 73-70-66 - 209 5. Mark O'Sullivan, Southeastern La. 69-70-71 - 210    Justin Emil, Southern Miss. 69-70-71 - 210
WKU Individuals t19. Robby Shaw 77-67-71 - 215 t48. John Mullendore 75-76-72 - 223 t57. Jared Topmiller 78-72-76 - 226 t57. Adam Cox 78-74-74 - 226  69. Sam Smith 77-77-76 - 230

- WKU -