A final-round comeback bid by Arkansas Tech University forced the University of Central Oklahoma to earn the team title at the 19th annual Northeastern State University Golf Classic, which was played on Monday and Tuesday at Muskogee Country Club in Muskogee, Okla.
Central Oklahoma posted rounds of 286-277 on Monday and entered the final round with a 10-stroke lead over second-place Arkansas Tech. The Wonder Boys returned team totals of 288 and 285 on Monday.
Bolstered by a front-nine, 4-under par 32 by Shawn Tsai, Arkansas Tech turned up the heat on the Bronchos during the final round before ultimately falling four strokes short. UCO shot 285 on Tuesday to complete the 54-hole event with a 848 total. The Wonder Boys accumulated a team score of 279 in the final round to finish at 852.
Tsai finished tied for fifth in the individual standings. He carded rounds of 71-69-70 on the 6,729-yard, par-71 layout to finish at 3-under 210.
Jackson Marseilles (T-8th, 74-72-67-213), Luke Cornett (T-10th, 69-75-70-214), Putter Srinoon (T-19th, 74-71-72-217) and Ryan Spurlock (T-64th, 75-73-79-227) also contributed to Tech’s team score.
ATU’s Kellen Gray (T-37th, 71-74-76-221) competed as an individual.
The Wonder Boys will return to action Oct. 2-3 at the Henderson State University Fall Invitational in Hot Springs.
