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HomeSportsAustin Peay State University Governor's Golf wins Harmony Golf Preserve Intercollegiate

Austin Peay State University Governor’s Golf wins Harmony Golf Preserve Intercollegiate

Austin Peay State University GovernorsOrlando, Fl–Austin Peay State University men’s golf team opened the 2013 Spring season just like it finished the fall…with a championship.

Austin Peay Golf
Austin Peay Golf- (Photo by APSU Sports Information)

Despite windy conditions, the Governors built a comfortable lead and then easily held on for a five-shot victory in the Harmony Golf Preserve Intercollegiate, Wednesday. Paced by junior Marco Iten’s even-par 72, the Govs shot a 9-over 297 for an 875 (295-283-297) three-round total.

That was five shots better than Virginia Commonwealth (286-297-297=880), followed by Florida Atlantic 286-293-308=887) and Florida Gulf Coast (294-296-306=896). Although it was more than four months in between competitions, it was the Governors second straight tourney triumph-they won the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate, Oct. 22-23, 2012.

“It was a really good performance in some much tougher conditions today,” APSU coach Kirk Kayden said. “The winds were blowing at 20 miles per hour today and gusting even higher.

“To get four scores in the mid-70s says a lot about how we played today, especially when I was told the average score today was 78.”

Individually, Iten tied for the day’s low round at even par-only three golfers shot par-and finished second overall with a 216 (70-74-72), one shot behind Florida Atlantic’s Richard Donegan. Sitting at 2-over with three holes to go, the junior from Niederglatt, Switzerland, birdied 16 and 18 to get back to even.

Anthony Bradley, who was one of only two tourney golfers to break 70 with a 69, Tuesday, finished third, one shot behind Iten after a final-round 74.

Freshman Chris Baker, making only his second start in the Govs lineup, also achieved a sixth-place finish, shooting 75 on Wednesday to end with a 221 (76-70-75).

The Govs’ other counter was Dustin Korte, who fired a final-round 76 to finish at 223 (76-71-76), also a Top 10 finish.

Redshirt freshman Korey Smith shot a final-round 77 for a 226 while sophomore Tucker Wallace struggled to an 81 for a 230 total.

“Our guys are happy they won,” Kayden said. “But they were not satisfied-you have to like that. They know they need to play better down the stretch.

“We had built an 11- or 12-shot lead, but then we gave some back (16 bogeys over the final six holes). That sometimes happens when you get a lead like that, but our guys know they could have been 2- or 3-over for the day if they had finished stronger.”

Austin Peay already has three tournament championships for the season and no worse than a Top 5 finish in six tourneys.

“I told our guys we have not had many teams win three tournaments, let alone three in their last four tournaments,” Kayden said. “That is playing some pretty good golf.”

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