RiverHawks Place Second at Missouri Southern State Tournament

JOPLN, MO. – Northeastern State’s Brady Wood and Kyle Fouts finished in the top five at the Missouri Southern State University Golf Classic as the RiverHawks finished second in the 12 team field at the Twins Hills Country Club Tuesday.

Northeastern State finished just one-stroke back of tournament champion Central Missouri University with a 605 team total after rounds of  306 and 299 on the par 72, 6,842 yard course. Central Missouri had rounds of 310 and 294 for a 604 total. Southwestern State was third at 606.

Wood placed second in the tournament with rounds of 76-70 for a 146, just a stroke back of medalist Ben Claussen of Southwestern State at 145 with rounds of 75-70. The RiverHawks Fouts finished fourth in the tournament at 148 shooting rounds of 71 and 78.

"Our men competed to win a significant tournament but fell just short,” said Northeastern State head coach Scott Varner.”It's been several tournaments since we competed to win outright. I believe in these guys and I have got to get them to believe in themselves.

“We are so young and inexperienced after graduating three and losing Josh Boswell to family issues. I am proud of how our men kept fighting the good fight. It has been a tough month. However, we refused to let our string of 11 straight NCAA tournaments end. Only NSU and UCO can say that.

“We also have won four of the last five LSC tournaments and we fully expect to go out next week and compete for another one.

“We beat a lot of good teams and got edged out by a shot by Central Missouri, a GCAA top 5 team. This should help our confidence tremendously,” said Varner.

Team scores: 1, Central Missouri 310-294—604. 2, Northeastern State 306-299—605. 3, Southwestern State 309-297—606. 4, Southwest Baptist 305-309—614, 5, Ft. Hays State 302-315—617. 6, Missouri Southern State 309-309—618. 7,Truman State 313-308—621.8, Washburn University 312-313—625. 9, Lincoln University 313-315—628. 10, Missouri Western State 321-314—635. 11,Pittsburg State 318-318-636. 12, Missouri Southern B 327-313—640.

Top individuals: 1, Ben Claussen(Southwestern State) 75-70—145. 2, Brady Wood Northeastern State) 76-70—146. 3, Justin Yoder (Central Missouri) 75-72—147. 4, Kyle Fouts (Northeastern State) 71-77—148. 5, Daniel Crawford (Missouri Western) 77-72—149.

Other Northeastern State scores: T 27 Blake Walker 81-75—156. T 44 Colby Ricks 84-77—161. T 44 Jordan Perceful 78-83—161.