ULM Warhawks

Lone Star Invitational - Final Results

SAN ANTONIO – Junior Joao Girao not only enjoyed the best second-round score of any ULM golfer (1-under-par 71), but he also climbed 12 spots in the process to finish in a six-way tie for 10th in the final round of the Lone Star Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the TPC Oaks Course. Girao, one of five Warhawk golfers to post a round in the 70s, was integral in helping the Warhawks finish fifth with a combined score of 15-over-par 591 after posting a second round 293.
 
Girao started his day with a series of pars, quickly moving into negative numbers after back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes, with a score of 2-under-par. After four-straight pars at the turn on the back nine, Girao improved his score to 3-under-par with a birdie at the 14th hole. He maintained that score for the next six holes but surrendered two strokes with bogeys at the third and fourth holes as he finished with a 1-under-par score of 71.
 
Arkansas State's Zan Luka Stirn shared top individual honors with UTSA's Sean Meehan, who both finished at 4-under-par after totaling 140. Stirn came through with three birdies in the final round, enjoying a 34 on the back nine, as he posted a second-round 70. Meanwhile, Meehan tallied a 72 after an opening-round 68 and notched four birdies in the second round to finish the day at even par. Top team honors went to host UTSA, which closed with a 2-over-par 578 after consecutive rounds of 289.
 
ULM freshman Keegan McLachlan wrapped up his first collegiate tournament with a 4-over-par 148 (73-75) to finished tied for 20th. His second round got off to a rough start with bogeys at the fifth and eighth holes, moving him to 2-over-par. A birdie at the 10th hole improved his score by one stroke, but a bogey at 13 coupled with a double bogey at 14 dropped him to 4-over par. After five-straight pars, McLachlan finished strong with a birdie at three and back-to-back pars to close at 3-over-par on the day.
 
"Overall, I'm pleased with the effort of the team, especially considering we had three freshmen in the lineup, on a tough golf course and in tough (weather) conditions," ULM Director of Golf Tim Baldwin said. "We finished only two shots out of third place, so I'm encouraged by the potential of this team. We need to tighten up or ball striking a bit, and when we do, we will be hard to beat.
 
"We led the field in par-4 stroke average, which is typically a strong determining factor in team strength. Our par-5 stroke average needs improvement for us to really go low.
 
"I'm proud of Joao and Keegan for both finishing in the Top 20."
 
The Warhawk duo of red-shirt junior Jeff Berry and freshman Michael Gilbert ended the event in a four-way tie for 26th with scores of 5-over-par 149. Gilbert's second-round total of 73 was the second best of any ULM golfer on the afternoon, coming by virtue of three birdies.
 
Berry began the second round with a par, but a bogey at nine and a double bogey at 12 moved him to 3-over-par through eight holes. He took two strokes off his score with consecutive birdies at 16 and 17; however, two bogeys in the next three holes again resulted in a 3-over-par. Berry tallied his final birdie of the round on the fourth green as he closed out the day with a 2-over-par round of 74.

After opening with a bogey at nine, Gilbert carded birdies at 11 and 17, but a trio of bogeys on the 13th, 15th and 18th greens moved him to 2-over-par for the day. Gilbert rebounded with a solid back nine, registering a birdie on the second hole and seven pars to close the second round at 1-over-par.
 
Otto Van Buynder completed the first collegiate tournament of his career in an eight-way tie for 36th with a 7-over 151 (75-76). His scorecard included 10 pars, six bogeys and two birdies. Van Buynder opened the final round with a birdie, but slipped to even with a bogey at eight.
 
Van Buynder's back nine proved to be difficult as he endured four double bogeys that led to a 4-over-par. He regained his composure at the first hole and tallied three-straight pars before recording a birdie, bogey and par down the stretch to finish the day at 4-over-par.
 
The Warhawks return to the course Sept. 14-16 when they head to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete in the Louisville Intercollegiate.
 
"Next up is the Louisville Cardinal Challenge," Baldwin said. "The field is stacked with several of the best programs in the country. I believe as many as eight teams competing there played in the NCAA postseason last year. We will need to be at our best to finish among the top five in that field. The guys are up for the challenge; let's hope we execute even better."

 
ULM Final Round Individual Results
 

Pl.	Individual	1st Rd.	2nd Rd.	Total	Par
5	ULM	298	293	591	+15
t-10	Joao Girao	75	71	146	+2
t-20	Keegan McLachlan	73	75	148	+4
t-26	Jeff Berry	75	74	149	+5
t-26	Michael Gilbert	76	73	149	+5
t-36	Otto Van Buynder	75	76	151	+7