GULF SHORES, Ala. – Led by the individual title of Matthis Besard, the Southern Illinois University Salukis finished the Craft Farms Invitational in ninth place with a final score of 890.
Besard, a junior from Belgium, shot an even-par 72 in the third round, bringing his final score to 212 and giving him a single-stroke edge against Joey McCarthy from Cincinnati. The victory is the second individual title of Besard’s career.
Freshman Justin Wingerter (75-71-74=220) finished second on the team and tied for 19th individually. Tom Cleaton(76-76-76=228) finished in a tie for 45th, while Birgir Magnusson (78-78-74=230) finished in a tie for 54th. Andrew Thornton (88-79-79=246) wrapped up the Salukis in competition by placing 74th in the field.
As a team, SIU shot for 296 in the third round to secure its ninth-place finish. Cincinnati finished first with a total score of 865, edging out the host, South Alabama, by six strokes. Louisiana fell back one spot from day two to finish third, while Lipscomb placed fourth. Ball State and Texas State finished in a tie for sixth, while Eastern Michigan and Illinois State finished seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Salukis will now shift gears and ready for the Murray State Racer Invitational on April 4-6.
Click here to view the final results.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Cincinnati | Final: 865 (+1)
2. South Alabama | Final: 871 (+7)
3. Louisiana | Final: 875 (+11)
4. Lipscomb | Final: 881 (+17)
T5. Ball State | Final: 882 (+18)
T5. Texas State | Final: 882 (+18)
7. Eastern Michigan | Final: 886 (+22)
8. Illinois State | Final: 889 (+25)
9. Southern Illinois | Final: 890 (+26)
10. Lamar University | Final: 894 (+30)
11. Western Kentucky | Final: 901 (+47)
12. Seton Hall Univ. | Final: 911 (+47)
13. Eastern Kentucky | Final: 915 (+51)
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Matthis Besard – R1: 70, R2: 70, R3: 72 = 212 (-4)
T19. Justin Wingerter – R1: 75, R2: 71, R3: 74 = 220 (+4)
T45. Tom Cleaton – R1: 76, R2: 76, R3: 76 = 228 (+12)
T54. Birgir Magnusson – R1: 78, R2: 78, R3: 74 = 230 (+14)
74. Andrew Thornton – R1: 88, R2: 79, R3: 79 = 246 (+30)