Men's Golf Finishes Third at Bluffs
10/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 12, 2004
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Missouri had five consistent scores on the day, yet could not go as low as its Tiger counterparts from Tennessee. Memphis also had rounds of 67 - which would have been the low of the tournament if not for Shiels - 70 and 71 in posting an aggregate total of 11-under 273.
Mizzou finished third for the second straight year, 13 strokes back and four strokes behind Miami University, and posted its fifth straight top-three finish in the 10-year history of the Bluffs. In addition, all five of MU's scoring players finished in the top 25.
Individually, junior Ben Scott (Lancashire, United Kingdom / St. Theodore's HS) was one of only two players to finish under par in each round, including Tuesday's 70, and finished in a tie for third at 4-under 209. Junior Chris Mabry (Leawood, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS) also carded a 70 to lead the way for Mizzou on Tuesday. He finished tied for 24th.
There was more good news from the tournament for the Tigers. Every Mizzou player, including all five non-scoring individuals, registered his best round of the season this week. Four - senior Justin Bliss (Chesterfield, Mo. / Lafayette HS), and sophomores John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS), Trent Twaddle (Maryville, Mo. / Maryville HS), and Michael Unger (Edmond, Okla. / Edmond North HS) - fired collegiate-best rounds on Monday or Tuesday. Bliss and Kelly carded 69's Monday afternoon, and Twaddle shot an even-par 71 on Tuesday, and Unger posted a 78 Monday afternoon.
"I think we made some progress this week and turned the corner. It's kind of like a kid that wants to walk before he can run. Our little boy made a big first step today," Head Coach Mark Leroux said. "It was kind of a collaborative team effort. When Justin Bliss comes in at No. 5 and shoots 69, it gives us something to play for today. Ben Scott and I are very pleased about him having all three rounds under par. Hats off to Memphis, today, though; 11 under par on the last day of a tournament is pretty impressive. But this week shows that we are capable and we can turn the corner."
The Tigers conclude their fall season in two weeks at The Nelson, hosted by Stanford, Oct. 22-24.
Players Mentioned
