Bennett's Runner-up Finish Paces Bronchos

NEWTON, Kan. (Sept. 18) – Central Oklahoma's Bennett Baldwin made a late surge fell that just short Tuesday in the final round of the Newman Invitational.

Baldwin was three-under-par over the final five holes in finishing with a one-under 71 that left him with an even-par 216 total and a runner-up finish, just one stroke behind winner Jackson Cole of Arkansas Tech.

The Bronchos came in sixth in the 16-team tourney, closing with a 302 to finish three trips around the 7,012-yard, par-72 Sand Creek Station Golf Club with a 910 total.

Concordia-St. Paul won the tournament at 893, followed by Missouri Southern (896) and Northeastern State (898).

"Bennett played awesome and had a great tournament," head coach Derrick Thompson said. "He got off to a slow start today, but really got it going down the stretch to give himself a chance and I'm really proud of him.

"Overall we played decent in tough conditions and picked up some good region head-to-head wins. We'll keep working to clean things up, but our guys are working hard to get us where we want to be."

Caleb Kimmel, Evan Griffith and Riley Harris had final-round 77s for UCO, while Carson Blaser shot 79. Brady Wicker shot 80 playing as an individual medalist.

Baldwin was unable to complete Monday's second round because of darkness and was one-over on his last three holes in that to finish off a 72.

The sophomore started final-round play on No. 8 and struggled out of the gate, making a double bogey and bogey in his first five holes. But Bennett came on strong, making five birdies in the last 13 holes.

Bennett got it going with birdies on the par-4 14th and par-4 18th to get to one-over, then bogeyed No. 2 to drop back to plus-two. He responded with three straight birdies before finishing with a pair of pars to finish off the 71.

UCO wraps up its five-tournament fall schedule next Monday and Tuesday at The Tulsa Cup.

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Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin: Sophomore

Evan Griffith: Junior

Riley Harris: Sophomore

Caleb Kimmel: Junior

Carson Blaser: Freshman

Brady Wicker: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin
: Sophomore

Evan Griffith
: Junior

Riley Harris
: Sophomore

Caleb Kimmel
: Junior

Carson Blaser
: Freshman

Brady Wicker
: Freshman