Axtell, Neb. - Despite the suspension of the second round yesterday evening, the Missouri Southern Men's Golf Team managed a fourth place finish overall and a third place finish in the MIAA Points standings at the UNK Fall Invitational held at Awarii Dunes this past Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 12-13).

With round two being suspended at 7:45 on Monday evening the remainder of the second round was to start at 9 a.m. with the third round scheduled for a shot gun start at 11:30 a.m. Due to travel and weather issues the third round was canceled and the event turned into a 36 hole tournament.

"The first round is truly who we are," said head coach Mike Wheeler. "We have to continue to stay focuses and keep our intensity up through a 36 hole day."

Southern dropped two spots in the second/final round finishing the day with a 15-over 303 for a two round total of 16-over 592. Sophomore Adam Vining led the Lions with a second round of 74, a six stroke improvement over his opening round, while senior Taylor Lansford also improved on his first day score with a 75. Lansford, senior Cameron Hamilton, and first round team leader junior Connor Neil all finished tied for 38th with a two day total of 151. Sophomore Tristan Haltom finished the highest for Southern with a 147 (70-77) for a share of 14th.

Wheeler added, "We are pleased with our overall result, but we are going right back to work to get ready for our [MSSU Men's Fall Invitational at Shangri-La Golf Club] event".

Hosts Nebraska-Kearney won the team event with a two round 583 (286-297) and Jay Cottam was the individual medalist for the Lopers with a 141 (68-73). Central Oklahoma jumped into second place after a second round of 294 for a total of 584 followed by Great American Conference school Southeastern Oklahoma State with a 591 (291-300). The Lions were fourth overall, third in the MIAA Points Standings, and Central Missouri rounded out the top five with a 59-4 (291-303). Washburn and Northeastern State tied for sixth with a total of 595 and were followed by Arkansas Tech (596), Southwestern Oklahoma State (597) and Iowa Western CC (601) to round out the top ten.

The next ten started off with Harding of the GAC with a 602, then Hutchinson CC came in 12th with a 604 and Henderson State finished 13th with a 608. MIAA schools Lincoln and Lindenwood were the next two teams on the leader board with a 609 and 611, respectively and NCAA D-I North Dakota tied for 16th with MIAA members Southwest Baptist and Missouri Western at 619. NAIA Midland University finished 19th with a 631 and Fort Hays State rounded out the team leader board with a 650.

The Lions will take next week off as they prepare to host the MSSU Men's Fall Invitational at Shangri-La Golf Club at Monkey Island, Okla.

MIAA Points Standings (after 1 event)
Team Standings (Conference points in parenthesis) **
1. Nebraska-Kearney (11) – 286-297=583
2. Central Oklahoma (10) – 290-294=584
3. Missouri Southern (9) – 289-303=592
4. Central Missouri (8) – 291-303=594
T5. Washburn (6.5) – 291-304=595
T5. Northeastern State (6.5) – 301-294=595
7. Lincoln (5) – 304-305=609
8. Lindenwood (4) – 307-304=611
T9. Southwest Baptist (2.5) – 311-308=619
T9. Missouri Western (2.5) – 307-312=619
11. Fort Hays State (1) – 328-322=650

Individual Standings (Conference points in parenthesis) **
1. Jay Cottam, Nebraska-Kearney (15) – 68-73=141
T2. Eli Armstrong, Central Oklahoma (13.5) – 71-71=142
T2. Carson Roberts, Washburn (13.5) – 71-71=142
4. Brad Hill, Nebraska-Kearney (12) – 69-75=144
5. Alex Springer, Central Missouri (11) – 75-71=146
T6. Wesley Jackson, Central Oklahoma (8.5) – 72-75=147
T6. Nick Pierce, Central Oklahoma (8.5) – 75-72=147
T6. Tristan Haltom, Missouri Southern (8.5) – 70-77=147
T6. Navid Majidi, Northeastern State (8.5) 76-71=147
T10. Patrick McCarthy, Missouri Western (4) 74-74=148
T10. Yente Van Doren, Lindenwood (4) 75-73=148
T10. Shayne Allan, Central Missouri (4) 71-77=148
T10. Cole Dillon, Central Missouri (4) 72-76=148
T10. Cody Troutman, Central Oklahoma (4) – 72-76=148
15. Tavin Dugan, Washburn (1) – 74-75=149