Tigers post strong final-round score at Old Waverly

Tuesday, April 17

West Point, Miss.

University of Memphis

Old Waverly Intercollegiate

Rodi Vlasveld fired a 4-under 68 in Tuesday's final round of the Old Waverly Collegiate.

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Tigers post strong final-round score at Old Waverly

Apr 17, 2018 | Men's Golf

Old Waverly Team Leaderboard Old Waverly Player Leaderboard

Team's 2-under 286 moves UofM into ninth place

By: Phil Stukenborg

WEST POINT, Miss. – If the University of Memphis men's golf team needed a pick-me-up – or at least a momentum builder -- leading into next week's American Athletic Conference Championship, it got it during Tuesday's final round of the Old Waverly Collegiate.

After struggling over the event's first 36 holes Monday, the Tigers fired a 2-under 286 – the third-best team score Tuesday – to jump four places and finish in ninth place. The Tigers, the biggest movers on the team scoreboard, were led by Rodi Vlasveld and Brad Bawden, who fired under-par rounds. Vlasveld shot a 4-under 68 and Bawden a 2-under 70.

LSU, the nation's 10^th-ranked team, won the event, played at Old Waverly Golf Club, by 13 strokes over 10^th-ranked USF. LSU fired an 11-under 277 to finish at 855. USF closed with a 285 for 868. Ole Miss, ranked 34^th, finished in third place at 870.

Braden Thornberry of Ole Miss, among the nation's top golfers, won the event with a 12-under 204. He shot 6-under 66 Tuesday.

In addition to Vlasveld and Bawden, the Tigers got a 1-over 73 from Jordan Even and a 75 from Borja Martin. For Memphis, there was no bigger recovery story than that of Vlasveld's. He advanced 35 places on the player leaderboard with his 68 to finish in a tie for 37th. He had opened with rounds of 82 and 77. Even's comeback also was impressive. His 73 followed rounds of 88 and 79.

The strong closing round by the Tigers allowed them to have top 10 finishes in each of their four spring tournaments.

Now, the Tigers will prepare for the April 22-24 American Athletic Conference Championships played in Palm Harbor, Fla.

MEMPHIS GOLFERS