OPELIKA, Alabama—Austin Peay State University wrapped its toughest test to date, with the 2019 Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner coming to a close, Tuesday.
The Govs were one of eight programs to improve their shooting each round, topping out at 295, Tuesday, for a three-round 902 (307-300-295). Although no Ohio Valley Conference schools were in the event, Austin Peay did defeat a local foe in Lipscomb, which finished with a 915.
The youth led the Governors on Tuesday, with sophomore Chase Korte and freshman Micah Knisley both carding even-par 72s in the final round. Korte finished as Austin Peay's overall leader with a three-round 224 (76-76-72, t-43rd), leading the Govs in par-3 scoring (2.92/hole) as one of just five players to average a below-par score on par-3 holes. Knisley moved up into the top-50, finishing 47th at 225 (76-77-72), helped by a two-under 34 on the front-nine; he canned a team-high 35 pars in the tournament, including all three attempts on the par-4 No. 13, which played as the second-toughest hole on the course over the three-day tournament.
Sophomore Garrett Whitfield tied for 55th overall (74-77-77—228), tying for the team-best with a 4.75 average on par-5 holes. Junior Austin Lancaster shot a 231 (81-76-74—231; t-64th) for the tournament but had a personal highlight on the par-5, 527-yard No. 4; he recorded the first eagle of his Austin Peay career, one of just five recorded on No. 4 during the tournament.
Junior Michael Busse couldn't recapture the magic from his one-under 71 in round two, which proved to be Austin Peay's best of the tournament; he finished with a 235 (81-71-73; t-75th).
The Govs will get an extended gap between tournaments, returning to action March 8 in Nevada for the South Dakota State-hosted Jackrabbit Invitational in Boulder City.
