University of Missouri
Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate
@MizzouMensGolf Holds On Late, Takes Team Runners-Up at Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate
10/16/2016 8:06:00 PM | Men's Golf
Senior Lilliedahl lands a Top 5 overall finish for the Tigers, shooting 10-under-par
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. - Mizzou Men's Golf, with three competitive tournaments thus far in the 2016-17 season, have placed in the Top 2 at each event. The Tigers (-22) claimed a team runners-up finish at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate this past weekend (Oct. 14-16) on the Blackthorn Club (277-283-282 -- 842).
In all three tournaments, the Tigers have shown the growth that has taken place since last season, with head coach Mark Leroux's group going toe-to-toe with ranked opposition. Mizzou, ranked 24th in the latest GolfStat.com team rankings, held off 14th-ranked Kent State (-15, 287-277-285 -- 849) down the home stretch of the third round. The Tigers were only bested by 17th-ranked Virginia, who shot 35-under-par for the tournament (280-269-280 -- 829).
Leading the Tigers was senior Linus Lilliedahl (Sandviken, Sweden), who put on another masterful performance. His 206 tournament score (67-72-67) was the lowest of his career, and was also the lowest score shot by any Tiger golfer this season. His first and third round 67 scores were additionally a career-best for the senior. The solid play by Lilliedahl led to yet another Top 5 finish, as he has been in the Top 5 in every event he has in played this season. Lilliedahl has only recorded one round over-par, thus far.
Following not far behind was fellow senior Euan Walker (Troon, Scotland), who continued to impress. He shot three straight 70s (70-70-70 -- 210), which was just a stroke off his career low. He played all three of his rounds under-par for the second consecutive tournament, marking the only two times he has done so during his collegiate career. Walker finished 12th overall.
Finishing third on the traveling roster for Mizzou was sophomore Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.) who followed the example of the seniors, and had himself a career tournament. His first and second round scores of 69 mark a new career-low 18-hole score, while his 213 sets a new 54-hole low by three strokes. His 20th-place individual finish made him one of the three Mizzou golfers to finish in the Top 20 at the Blackthorn Club.
In the fourth spot for the Tigers was junior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.) , who made his season debut in Jonesborough. Buckley played well at the event while knocking off rust from injury. He finished tied for 28th overall, playing his trademark brand of consistent golf (71-72-73 -- 216).
Junior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa) finished in the fifth spot for Mizzou with a 54-hole score of 223 (79-72-72). If not for a first round 79, Ullestad would have seen a much higher finish and a better score, as he shot back-to-back rounds of 72 to close the event.
The Tigers wrap up the fall portion of their 2016-17 schedule at the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational in Kauai, Hawaii, from Sunday, Oct. 30-Tuesday, Nov. 1.
