University of Missouri
SunTrust Gator Invitational
Buckley Wins Again, No. 21 @MizzouMensGolf Places Seventh at Gator Invitational
2/18/2018 7:20:00 PM | Men's Golf
Hayden Buckley wins third individual championship of the season
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Mizzou Men's Golf took seventh place at the SunTrust Gator Invitational over the weekend (February 17-18), but the story for the Tigers was again centered around senior Hayden Buckley (Belden, Miss.) and his fantastic final campaign for the Black & Gold. Buckley won his third individual title of the season (70-68-64 -- 202) at the Mark Bostick Golf Course, finishing 8-under-par.
For head coach Mark Leroux's squad, the seventh-place showing comes amongst an impressive field of competition, including fellow Southeastern Conference opponents No. 4 Vanderbilt, who took first, and No. 7 Florida, who finished second. South Florida, North Florida, UCF and Liberty also placed ahead of the Tigers.
There was no winter intermission rust for Buckley, who continued his spectacular senior season with another tournament championship. Though he fired an even-at-par 70 to start the weekend, Buckley rebounded with a second round 68 and a final round 64 to surge ahead and take the lead going into the clubhouse. Though several competitors would come close, Buckley won the event by a stroke, finishing with a 202 on the par-70 course. The Gator Invitational marked the third consecutive tournament score under 205 for Buckley, and the second year in a row Mizzou has placed a golfer in the Top-2 of the event.
Following Buckley in the list of Mizzou finishers was freshman Jamie Stewart (Renfrewshire, Scotland), who continues to play well in his first collegiate season. He started the weekend off strong, firing back-to-back rounds of 69 in his first two rounds. Stewart managed a final round of 75, which gave him a 213 for the tournament. That score was good for 30th overall, and his two rounds under-par on the weekend moved him into second in that category on the Tiger roster.
Junior Matt Echelmeier (Columbia, Mo.) and freshman Jack Parker (Columbia, Mo.) both shot matching 220s in Gainesville to share a slice of 58th overall. Parker (75-71-74) was more consistent over the weekend, while Echelmeier (69-78-73) started strong with a 69, but recorded a 78 in Round Two to fall out of contention.
Finishing fifth for the Tigers was senior Trevor Ullestad (Jewell, Iowa), who shot a 222 (71-73-78) over three rounds. Ullestad, like Stewart and Echelmeier, started off strong, but had plenty of work to do in Round Three.
The Tigers are back in action from March 4-6 at the Auburn Tiger Invitational in Opelika, Alabama. Fans are reminded that Mizzou hosts the Tiger Invitational at The Club at Old Hawthorne from April 9-10.
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Golf, stay tuned to MUTigers.com or follow the program on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouMensGolf).
