Steady play carried the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys to a runner-up finish among 11 teams in the 2012 Natural State Golf Classic at Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs on Monday and Tuesday.
Every round turned in by the five Wonder Boys contributing to the team score at the tournament was between 71 and 78.
That consistency was reflected in Arkansas Tech’s team scores of 292 on Monday and 292 on Tuesday.
Tech’s 584 total was seven strokes behind tournament champion Union University (291-286-577). Blue Mountain College (3rd, 295-293-588), Harding University (4th, 290-302-592) and Southern Arkansas University (5th, 300-301-601) rounded out the top five.
Parker Hale had the Wonder Boys’ best individual finish. He shot 72-71 for a 1-over par total of 143 and a share of second place.
Jack Garrett (T-10th, 72-75-147), Slade Hames (T-13th, 75-74-149), Jason Purdy (T-18th, 73-77-150) and Graham Rucker (T-18th, 78-72-150) also contributed to Arkansas Tech’s team score.
Wonder Boys golf team members Kyle Barton (T-13th, 72-77-149) and Conner Smith (T-31st, 81-74-155) competed as individuals.
Union’s Brett Barry fired the low round of the tournament — a 3-under 68 on Tuesday — to finish with a 2-under total of 140 and a three-stroke victory.
Arkansas Tech will compete in the inaugural Great American Conference Championships April 15-17.
Click here to learn more about Wonder Boys golf.
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