Men's Golf 3/5/2024 2:18:00 PM

UCO Finishes Runner-up In Arkansas Tourney

Fourth Consecutive Second-Place Finish For Central Oklahoma

FORT SMITH, Ark. – A trio of top-10 individuals led Central Oklahoma to a runner-up finish in the Hardscrabble Invitational that wrapped up Tuesday.

Jordan Wilson, Bennett Baldwin and Dylan Henderson all placed in the top 10 and the Bronchos finished three trips around the 6,783-yard, par-70 Hardscrabble Country Club with an 872 total, three strokes behind winner Missouri Southern.

West Texas A&M was third in the 11-team field at 878, followed by host Arkansas-Fort Smith (891) and Lubbock Christian (900).

It's UCO's fifth runner-up showing in seven tournaments this year, including the fourth straight. The Bronchos were third in their other two outings.

"We played pretty steady both days," said head coach Derrick Thompson, whose team closed with a 286 after rounds of 290-296 Monday. "We didn't make enough birdies, but had a lot of pars and stayed away from the big mistakes."

Wilson paced UCO on the final day with an even-par 70. Nick Canales closed with a 71, while Baldwin shot 72, Henderson 73 and Kyle Hickey 78. The Bronchos also had two individual medalists, with Baylor Bostick shooting a final-day 76 and Evan Griffith 77.

Wilson started the final round on No. 1 and promptly reeled off 14 straight pars. The junior got to one-under with a birdie on the par-3 15th, gave that back with a bogey on No. 16 and finished with two pars to close out the 70.

The mid-year transfer tied for fourth with a 215 total after coming in second in the spring-opening Houston Classic three weeks ago.

Baldwin overcame a first-hole bogey with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 in getting to 1-under, then bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 in making the turn at 36. He parred the first four holes on the back nine, bogeyed No. 14 and then closed with four more pars for a 72. The junior ended up tied for seventh with a 216 total.

Henderson opened play on No. 2 and bogeyed two of his first three holes before getting a shot back with a birdie on the par-5 sixth to get back to 1-over-par. He followed with 11 pars and two bogeys in finishing off a 73. That left the junior with a 218 total, good for ninth in the individual standings.

Canales was three-over after his first three holes before rallying to get back to one-over for the day and ended up tied for 14th at 224. Griffith also finished in the top 15, tying for 11th with a 223 total.

UCO is off next week before returning to action March 18-19 at the Oak Tree Invitational in Edmond.

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Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin: Junior

Evan Griffith: Senior

Dylan Henderson: Junior

Kyle Hickey: Senior

Baylor Bostick: 6' 4"; Freshman

Nick Canales: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Jordan Wilson: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin
: Junior

Evan Griffith
: Senior

Dylan Henderson
: Junior

Kyle Hickey
: Senior

Baylor Bostick
: 6' 4"; Freshman

Nick Canales
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Jordan Wilson
: 5' 8"; Junior