COLONEL GOLFERS HEAD TO UK TOURNEY MAR CH 31- APRIL 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University men's golf team is preparing for the Johnny Owens Invitational hosted by the University of Kentucky Friday and Saturday. Making the trip to Kearney Hills Golf Club outside Lexington for the Colonels will be Eric Willenbrink, Sam Covitz, Chad Creech and two qualifying team members to be decided this week. Some of the other schools in the tournament, which will feature 36 holes Friday and 18 Sunday, will be UK, Louisville, Wright State and Marshall.
EKU head coach Pat Stephens offered no predictions but did say, "We are still trying to find a consistent top five players. Right now we are a good college team on the verge of being great. We're just taking a wait-and-see attitude."
The Colonels are coming off a third-place finish in their annual Eastern Kentucky Spring Intercollegiate Tournament which was held March 24-25. The top Colonel scorer was senior Eric Willenbrink with a three-round total of 214. This was good enough for a tie for second overall. Other Colonel scores of note were sophomore Sam Covitz who finished 17th with a score of 226 and senior Chad Creech who finished 33rd with a final score of 229. Rounding out Eastern's scores were senior Brandon Tucker who finished tied with EKU sophomore Brad Morris at 55th with a three-round score of 234.
"I felt we should have placed second, but I was not disappointed in losing to Division II Methodist College. They have one of the best college golfers around in Chad Collins who won the tournament." said Stephens.
Morehead State University placed second overall, 20 strokes from Methodist.
Over Spring Break, EKU finished fourth in the El Diablo Intercollegiate, hosted by Marshall University in Citrus Springs, FL. Willenbrink led Colonel golfers with his fourth-place finish with a three-round score of 221.
"El Diablo was a great golf course with a different look than we're used to playing. It was a great learning experience for us. I was especially pleased with the team breaking 300 the last round of the tournament with a 295 score," said Stephens.