Memphis Intercollegiate Final Results (PDF)
CORDOVA, Tenn. — The WKU men's golf team bounced back with gusto Tuesday, producing the best team round of the entire tournament at the Memphis Intercollegiate.
After churning out a 25-over-par 313 and 20-over 308 in windy conditions in Monday's first two rounds, the Hilltoppers responded with a 3-under 285 as a team Tuesday at Colonial Country Club.
The score was three strokes better than any team round compiled at any point in the tournament by the other 12 competing programs. WKU finished seventh after starting Tuesday in a tie for 11th.
"That score shows what we can do," WKU head coach Phillip Hatchett said. "Some guys got some good experience here. We're the kind of team where if we ever get going, having all three rounds halfway decent, we're going to be hard to beat. We're just looking for that day. We just need to get started off a little bit better and finish the way we did today."
The Hilltopper surged Tuesday with four scores of 73 or better, including a 1-under 71 by redshirt senior Nick Thompson.
Thompson, who was making his season debut this week, tied for 13th individually with a 225 (78-76-71) total. It was his best result since his freshman season in 2012-13.
Sophomore Blake Smith tied for 20th with a 227 (79-75-73) mark, while redshirt sophomore Billy Tom Sargent came in tied for 27th at 229 (80-78-71).
Sophomore Stuart Easton made the biggest jump of all, following his pair of 80s on Monday with a 2-under 70 on Tuesday – WKU's best score of the tournament and the third-best round of the entire event. He tied for 33rd at 230.
"I was really proud of the way Stuart Easton came through today," Hatchett said. "He's been close for a while, but just not quite getting things done. He found something on the range today that helped him to hit the ball just a little bit more solidly and score better."
Freshman Tom Bevington tied for 53rd at 235 (76-79-80) in his first college event, and junior Bryant Evans tied for 46th at 233 (80-77-76) competing as an individual.
Little Rock won the team competition with an 895 total. Lipscomb's Dawson Armstrong (217) was the individual medalist.
The Hilltoppers go right back to work next week at the Firestone Intercollegiate, hosted by Akron on Oct. 3-4 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
WKU Final Results
T13. Nick Thompson (78-76-71-225)
T20. Blake Smith (79-75-73-227)
T27. Billy Tom Sargent (80-78-71-229)
T33. Stuart Easton (80-80-70-230)
T46. Bryant Evans (80-77-76-233)
T53. Tom Bevington (76-79-80-235)
