ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Mizzou men's golf team closed out the William H. Tucker Invitational Saturday, finishing 14th at 9-over par at the University of New Mexico Championship Course. The Tigers carded a 1-over-par 289 in the final round, as play resumed Saturday morning after weather suspended the second round Friday.
Freshman Antoni Hawkins led the Tigers for the first time this season, carding an even-par to finish the tournament. Hawkins recorded four birdies in the final round to finish 35th individually.
“Personally, I’m happy to have put together three solid rounds and finish tied for 35th to lead the team for the first time, hopefully more to come in the future,” Hawkins said. “We most definitely had more in the tank and just struggled to show it on the scorecard.”
During the final round, sophomore Esteban Cruz Bonilla led the Tigers in his first tournament of his season, firing a 1-under-par 71 to climb 17 spots on the individual leaderboard. Cruz Bonilla opened with a 35 on the front nine, highlighted by an eagle on hole nine, before closing with an even-par 36 on the back nine.
Junior Paxton Maxwell closed the tournament with an even-par 72, his best round of the tournament. Maxwell recorded two birdies on the front nine to complete a 1-under 35, finishing at 6-over par for the tournament.
Junior Andy Yang, competing individually, ended at 1-over-par to complete the best finish of his season. Yang made the turn at 1-over 37 and added another 1-over par on the back nine to finish tied for 45th.
Senior Veikka Viskari posted a 1-over-par 73 to finish the final round. Viskari recorded an even-par 36 on the back nine to finish tied for 70th at 6-over par.
Junior Trent Mierl closed with a 3-over-par 75, carding a 2-over 38 on the front nine before finishing with a 1-over 37 on the back. He finished tied for 63rd at 5-over par.
Mizzou opened the tournament with a 2-under-par 286 before carding a 10-over-par 298 in a weather-impacted second round. The Tigers finished with a 1-over-par 289 in the final round to close the tournament at 9-over par.
“After three tournaments, we feel pretty good about our game as a team,” Hawkins said. “With solid golf across the board in Canada and Knoxville, one tournament doesn’t define us and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead at the Bryson.”
UP NEXT
Mizzou will compete at the Bryson Invitational in Miami, Florida, from Oct. 12-14.