SAN ANTONIO – No. 32-ranked Midwestern State is one of 16 schools competing in the 54-hole Rattler Invitational at Dominion Country Club on Monday and Tuesday.
Seth Bearden, Anniston McIlwain, Ryan Griff, Nathan Nelson and Hank Germany comprise the MSU lineup for this week's event.
The Mustangs are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Houston Classic last week, finishing at 13-over at Golf Club of Houston, where Dallas Baptist was the only team to finish under par, and the Mustangs were 27 strokes behind the Patriots.
Bearden, who is ranked No. 25 in the nation, closed with a 3-over 75 and finished in seventh place at 2-under 214 through 54 holes. The senior from Crowell, Texas, was 11 strokes behind Bryant Hiskey II of Houston, who won the individual title by two strokes over Samuel Jenkins of Dallas Baptist.
McIlwain put together an impressive performance at the Houston Classic. After starting 3-over through the first four holes in his final round, the sophomore from Bulverde, Texas, carded three birdies over the final 12 holes and had just one more bogey for a 1-over 73. McIlwain finished in 14th place at 2-over 218.
Nelson and Griff finished tied for 26th at 7-over 223 in Houston. Griff shot 3-over 75 in the second and third rounds after opening the tournament with a 1-over 73. Nelson followed his 1-under 71 in the second round with a 3-over 75.
Germany had four straight birdies on the back nine during the final round at Houston, and he carded his best round at 3-over 75. Germany finished 55th at 13-over 229 through 54 holes.
The field at the Rattler Invitational includes nine teams from the Lone Star Conference, including No. 6-ranked St. Mary's, No. 11-ranked Dallas Baptist and No. 17-ranked UT Permian Basin.
UT Dallas, UT Tyler, Lubbock Christian, Western New Mexico, Texas A&M International, and Cameron are also in the field.
Northwestern Oklahoma State, Missouri Southern, Northeastern State, Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Weslyan round out the field.
Midwestern State finished seventh in the tournament last year at 23-over 887. St. Mary's, the host school, shot 9-under 855 to claim the title with an eight-stroke victory over Midland College. Dallas Baptist and UT Tyler finished tied for third at 12-over 876.
Bearden finished in a 17th place tie at 4-over 220, and Griff was tied for 21st at 6-over 222. Germany shot 22-over 238 and tied for 78th.
Former Texas Open champion Bill Johnston designed the course at Dominion Country Club in Hill Country. The course is situated along the banks of Leon Creek and incorporates 25 acres of man-made lakes and more than 60 sand traps.
The weather forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures near 80 degrees and southerly winds at 10-20 mph.
MIDWESTERN STATE LINEUP
1. Seth Bearden
2. Anniston McIlwain
3. Ryan Griff
4. Nathan Nelson
5. Hank Germany
-- MSUMustangs.com --
