News Summary
The Austin Peay State University men’s golf team is participating in the Grand Canyon University Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona. Competing against 17 other teams, the team seeks to improve on last year’s performance where they finished 12th. Key players include Patton Samuels, who has maintained a strong scoring average, alongside others like Reece Britt and Seth Smith, who have shown promise in early rounds. The tournament presents a significant opportunity for the team to make a mark in collegiate golf.
Phoenix, Arizona – The Austin Peay State University men’s golf team is currently competing in the Grand Canyon University Invitational held at the GCU Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona. The tournament commenced on Tuesday and will continue through Wednesday, featuring a par-71 course.
Austin Peay is competing against 17 other teams in this year’s event, which includes notable participants like Arkansas State, California Baptist, and Wichita State among a total of 99 players.
Last year, Austin Peay finished in 12th place at the GCU Invitational, scoring 864 strokes across the tournament. In that event, Jakob Falk Schollert was the standout performer for the Govs, concluding the tournament in 36th place with a three-round score of 215.
For the 2024 event, the Austin Peay team is being led by Patton Samuels, who boasts an impressive scoring average of 69.35. Samuels has secured a top-five finish in each of the six tournaments he has participated in during his career, leading the team with nine rounds in the 60s and maintaining a record of 14 rounds at even or under par. He has also contributed counting scores in all 17 rounds played this season.
Reece Britt, another member of the team, holds a scoring average of 73.06 and has recorded one round in the 60s. He ranks third on the team for rounds played at even or under par. Seth Smith is performing well as well, with a scoring average of 71.88, which includes two individual wins and five rounds in the 60s.
The team includes new talent, with freshman Grady Cox averaging 74.35 in his debut season, showing promise by recording two rounds in the 60s. Michael Long also returns to the lineup after playing as an individual in the previous spring tournament, bringing along a scoring average of 76.67.
For the first two rounds of the Invitational, Austin Peay is paired with Kansas City, St. Thomas, and Valparaiso, beginning with a 10 a.m. (CT) shotgun start. Live scoring for the tournament is being provided by Golf Genius, allowing fans and supporters to keep track of the progress as the team competes.
The Grand Canyon University Invitational offers a significant opportunity for Austin Peay as they face a highly competitive field. With strong performances from their key players, the team aims to improve on last year’s result and make a mark in the collegiate golf circuit this week.
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Additional Resources
- Kansas City Roos
- Wikipedia: Grand Canyon University
- Grand Canyon Lopes
- Google Search: Men’s Golf
- Austin Peay Governors
- Google Scholar: collegiate golf
- UT Arlington Mavericks
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Pacific Tigers
- Google News: GCU Invitational
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