The University of South Dakota men’s golf team began its third round of the Beu Mussatto Invitational in 11th place after two rounds of play, just one position from last place.
The Coyotes were able to rally back with a final round score of 301, good for seventh overall, after posting 300-308 at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb, Ill., March 29-30.
During the first two rounds of play, tournament participants faced wintery conditions, affecting ball flight and putting surfaces throughout both days. First-year Miles Death said USD displayed mental toughness during its third round.
“It was really windy and cold, and to shoot 301 as a team was really a good sign that we were able to overcome our third round struggles,” Death said.
Sophomore Sam Matthew led the final round charge, shooting a final-round 71 to finish 10th individually. First-year Alex Kline also made a leap to bolster the Coyotes, posting a 72 to crack the Top-30 individually.
Death said the team was disappointed with its final placement, but they were glad to beat several Summit League opponents.
“Basically finishing seventh was just an okay tournament for us. Realistically, we beat the teams that we are supposed to beat and we could have done more to beat the teams ahead of us,” Death said.
Among six Summit League opponents at the tournament, USD tied for fourth with its overall score at the tournament and just 14 strokes back from North Dakota State, the next-best Summit League team. Death said the Coyotes went away with optimism for the Summit League Conference Tournament.
“The eventual winner of the tournament was SDSU, and we had identical rounds to them in the first and third rounds. If we can just put together all three rounds, we can compete for the Summit League title,” Death said.
USD will have multiple days off before their next event; the Coyotes will play at the Tennessee State Tournament in Old Hickory, Tenn. April 15-16. The tournament will be the last outing before the Conference Championships in Houston, Texas.
After the Conference Championships, the team heads back north to play in their final tournament, the Dakota Cup, in Morton Minn. against North Dakota State and South Dakota State.
Women’s team back in action after time off
The women’s team gets back in action this weekend (April 8-9) in Kansas City after having a three-week break.
The Coyotes have struggled in recent tournament play, finishing 18 of 21 in their first tournament and then last place in their last outing.
The Kansas City tournament will pit the Coyotes with many teams from the Summit League, their first real look at where they match up with the rest of their competition.
After its tournament in Kansas City, the team will travel to Omaha April 15-16 to participate in the Creighton Tournament.
