Temple, Texas - The Centenary men's Golf team finished eighth in the Mary Hardin-Baylor Fall Invitational on Tuesday, the Gents' season-opening tournament, at the par 70 Sammons Park Golf Course.
The Gents shot a 21-over par 301 in Tuesday's final round, a seven-stroke improvement over their 28-over 308 shot on Monday. They finished with a 49-over par 609 for the tournament. Host Mary Hardin-Baylor shot a 1-under par 559 to win the tournament by five shots over runner-up UT Dallas. Mary Hardin-Baylor was the only team to finish under par.
Mary Hardin-Baylor's "B" team finished third after shooting a 5-over 565, one shot behind the Comets (+4 564). Texas Lutheran finished fourth at 22-over par 582, Hardin-Simmons placed fifth at 28-over 588, East Texas Baptist University finished sixth at 29-over 589, and Howard Payne finished in seventh ahead of the Gents after shooting a 43-over par 603.
Junior Richard Polan (Brno, Czech Republic) was the Gents' top finisher as he shot a final-round 3-over par 73 to tie for 16th place. Polan shot a 2-over 72 in Monday's opening round. Polan has now earned a top-20 finish in seven-straight tournaments. Senior Harrison John (Lafayette, La.) finished in a tie for 31st place after shooting an 8-over 78 on Tuesday. John shot a 2-over par 72 on Monday.
Sophomore Ricky Blair (Bossier City, La.) shot a 5-over 75 on Tuesday preceded by a 7-over 77 on Monday to finish at 12-over par 152 and in a tie for 35th place. Sophomore Drew Bennett (Bossier City, La.) and Junior Devan Martin (Watson, La.) finished 58th and 59th as Bennett shaved 16 strokes off his first-round score of 91 to shoot a 5-over 75 on Tuesday and finish at 26-over par 166. Martin shot 87-90 for a 37-over 177 total. Freshman Tyler Jones (Stonewall, La.) also shot a lower score on Tuesday after an opening round 101 as he turned in a 20-over 90. He placed 61st after shooting a 51-over par 191 total.
Mary Hardin-Baylor's Andrew Baucum was the top individual after shooting a 5-under par 135 to finish two shots ahead of runner-up and teammate William Sammons, the leader after Monday's first round. Five individuals finished under par.
The Gents will take a break from tournament action to face Millsaps College at Black Bear Golf Club in Delhi, La. on Oct. 7 in a dual match before wrapping up play in the fall with the University of Dallas Crusader Invitational Oct. 18-19 at the WinStar Golf Club in Thackerville, Okla.
See the Gents' fall schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mgolf/2021-22/schedule
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