The ACU golf team took third place in the Harold Funston Invitation on Tuesday. Senior Corbin Renner led the team, finishing third overall.
The Wildcats finished the final round strong as the team closed the gap from six strokes to four on Tyler Junior College, the second place team. Still, the host school, Sam Houston State, ran away with the tournament victory, making it three consecutive wins for them at the Harold Funston.
Renner was once again only a few strokes away from the individual victory. His final round of 70 was the second best score of the day. He shot a combined score of 213.
Zach Cabra from Sam Houston State topped Renner by three shots and won the tournament with a 210. Incarnate Word senior, Austin Jordan (212), took second.
“I know Corbin felt like he let one get away,” said Tom Shaw, head coach. “The ball just didn’t seem to break his way.”
Renner finished fourth in last year’s tournament at Sam Houston. He has not won a tournament since September of 2013.
“Corbin’s a great golfer and a great teammate” sophomore Kyle Karnei said. “His play elevates everyone’s game.”
Karnei finished second on the team with a day two score of 73. That put him in a tie for 17th in the overall field. Freshman Clarke Hudgins and junior Dillon Vaughn both finished tied for 21st, although it was Hudgins that impressed in his final round. He fired a 70 to bounce back from a disappointing end to his second round.. Vaughn struggled Tuesday with a 76, and sophomore Robert Johnson rounded out the team in 24th with a 78.
The Wildcats did beat two Southland Conference teams in Nicholls State (seventh) and Incarnate Word (fourth). However, it may be the Southland team that the ‘Cats could not beat that tells the biggest tale.
“Sam Houston has a good team, but we showed that we are going to keep battling,” Shaw said. “Our guys now know they can play with them.”
ACU has one remaining tournament in their fall schedule. They will play in the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate at the New Mexico State Golf Course on Oct. 20 and 21.
