September 22, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri men's golf team wrapped up play today in the 1998 Kansas Invitational, and finished 11th as a team, shooting a three-round score of 896. Host Kansas won the tournament, played at Alvamar Golf Club in Lawrence, Kan., with a nine-under team score of 855. Runner-up Iowa State finished 19 strokes back, at 874.
Individually, junior DAVID SUGGS (69-72-77=218) finished tied for 12th place to lead Missouri, with a three-round total of 218. The three-under par opening round of 69 tied a collegiate career best for the Chesterfield, Mo. native. He stood tied for 3rd place after one round, but rounds of even par and five-over to finish kept him from challenging for his first college title. Chris Thompson of Kansas won individual honors, with a three-round total of 210 (70-68-72).
A pair of freshmen was next for the Tigers, as NEAL STAFFORD (Springfield, Mo.) and MARK McBRIDE (Lebanon, Mo.) tied for 42nd place, with identical totals of 226. Stafford shot rounds of 76-77-73 in his first collegiate event, while McBride, who played in MU's season opener two weeks ago, shot rounds of 77-75-74.
Next among Tiger competitors was sophomore BLAYNE ROSELY (80-72-77=229), who tied for 57th overall, with a 229 total. The Quincy, Ill. native's second-round 72 (even-par) was a collegiate career best, bettering his previous mark of 74. Rounding out the Tiger lineup was senior JAKE POE (Columbia, Mo.), who played his first tournament for MU after transferring from Stanford over the summer. The son of longtime Tiger coach Rich Poe, who stepped down as head coach this summer, Jake finished tied for 92nd place overall, with a 247 total (77-87-83).
Senior ETHAN ROST (Jefferson City, Mo.) competed as an individual, and finished tied for 77th place, after rounds of 75-79-81 left him with a three-round total of 235.
The Tigers will have nearly three weeks to prepare for their next competition, when they host the annual Missouri Bluffs Intercollegiate. The tournament is scheduled for Oct. 11-12 at the Missouri Bluffs Golf Course, in St. Louis, Mo.