November 28, 1998

The University of Missouri men's golf team wrapped up its 1998 fall season today by placing 8th at the Mauna Kea Resort Invitational. The tournament was held from Nov. 27-28 at Hapuna Golf Club, in Hilo, Hi.

Missouri found itself in 6th place as a team following an opening-round team score of 321, but couldn't move up, despite improving in the final two rounds, with team tallies of 304 and 306, respectively. MU's 931 three-round total left the Tigers six shots behind fellow Big 12 brethren Kansas (7th -- 925).

Individually, Missouri was led by freshman Mark McBride (73-77-75=225), who tied for 11th place with a nine-over par total of 225. McBride was just one stroke off of his second consecutive top-10 finish, as he tied for 5th in his prior outing at Southwest Missouri State. McBride was a model of consistency in his first fall season as a Tiger -- his five tournament scores went 225 (at Air Force), 226 (at Kansas), 222 (at Missouri Bluffs), 223 (at SW Missouri) and 225 (at Hawaii-Hilo).

Next up for MU was junior David Suggs (78-76-75=229), who finished all alone in 17th place with a three-round total of 229. Suggs improved each round to post his 13-over par total. He led the Tigers in the fall season with a 74.60 stroke average.

The next Tiger finisher was sophomore Blayne Rosely (89-76-77=242), who finished tied for 39th place. Rosely got off to a slow start in the tournament, with an opening-round 89, but recovered nicely to post finishing rounds of 76 and 77 for his total.

Rounding out the Tiger contingent was a pair of freshmen. Neal Stafford finished in a tie for 42nd place overall, with a three-round total of 243. Fellow freshman Cory Ewert did not place in the tournament, after withdrew following two rounds of 87 and 75.

Head Coach Tim Robyn's Tigers now have nearly three months off from competition -- MU gets its 1999 spring season underway at the Puerto Rico Classic, to be held Feb. 21-23 in Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.