Austin Peay Sports Information
Muscle Shoals, AL – On moving day, Austin Peay State University men’s golf team didn’t quite moved in the direction head coach Robbie Wilson was planning.
In fact, the Fighting Joe course literally left the Governors black and blue as they had seven blue numbers (double bogeys) and three black numbers (three or more over par) en route to a 310 total.
As a result, any realistic hope of a ninth Governors’ Ohio Valley Conference championship all but dissipated in the sand, roughs, and waters of the 7,258 yard Robert Trent Jones course at The Shoals.
UT Martin slipped past first-round leader Jacksonville State and the rest of the field to lead, shooting a 2-over 290 to sit at 583. JSU (290-297) and Eastern Kentucky (298-289) are tied for second while Murray State (588) is fourth.
After avoiding the big numbers in Monday’s opening round, the Governors could not do so early Tuesday. On the front side, they had quintuple and triple bogeys along with four doubles. The five birdies, three by senior Tyler Phillips, did not come close to offsetting the damage.
“It was an extremely tough day,” APSU coach Robbie Wilson said. “It was just five guys not playing their best golf to start the day. On top of that at some point they put some pressure on themselves to get things turned around and we didn’t. We never got anything going and when that happens early—you begin pressing—you end up putting fuel on the fire.”
Phillips, playing in his first OVC tourney, led the Govs with a 3-over 75, overcoming a trio of double bogeys with five birdies. Fellow senior Chris Baker shot a 76, incurring bogeys on two of the last three holes. APSU’s third senior, Austin Kramer, fired a 78—the only other Govs to shoot below 80.
Sophomore Justin Arens fired an 81 while junior Erik Hedberg struggled to an 88.
“We have three seniors who will be playing their final college rounds tomorrow,” Wilson said. “I think we want to come to the course ready to play—play for them, play our best—and try to go out on a good note.
“They are frustrated about what happened today, but they did not quit. They all were working on something after we finished. We will see how they respond tomorrow.”
Box Score
2016 Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Championship
Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals
Muscle Shoals, AL
| Finish | School – Players | Round 1 | Round 2 | Totals |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University | 300 | 310 | 610 |
| T 26 | Chris Baker (1) | 75 | 76 | 151 |
| 32 | Austin Kramer (2) | 74 | 78 | 152 |
| T 37 | Tyler Phillips (5) | 79 | 75 | 154 |
| T 40 | Justin Arens (4) | 75 | 81 | 156 |
| 53 | Erik Hedberg (3) | 76 | 88 | 164 |
