Mountaineers Finish Fifth At Gopher Invitational

Mountaineers Finish Fifth at Gopher Invitational

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 9, 2019) – Three golfers finished in the top 25 as the West Virginia University golf team took fifth place in its season debut at the Gopher Invitational, hosted by Minnesota, at Windsong Farm Golf Club in Independence, Minnesota, on Monday.

After shooting 286-280 on Sunday, the Mountaineers stumbled in inclement weather and carded a team score of 292 in the third round. They took fifth place with a three-round total of 858 for six-over-par. Big 12 foe Baylor claimed the team title at four-under-par, while Texas A&M was the runner-up at two-under. Arkansas, who was tied with WVU entering the round, and Big 12 member Oklahoma tied for third place at two-over-par.

“It was a solid finish against a really strong field,” coach Sean Covich said. “We didn’t close out the event how we wanted but we will get back to work this week and next as we prepare for Wake Forest’s event at Old Town Club.”

After shooting 72-71 to start the third round tied for 19th, junior Matthew Sharpstene used five birdies to shoot an even-par 71 and vault eight spots ahead in the standings. He finished with a 54-hole total of 214 to tie for 11th place at one-over-par.

Senior Philipp Matlari shot three-over in the final round to finish with a 74. His three-round total of 71-70-74=215 put him at two-over-par and in a tie for 16th place.

After a stellar debut on Sunday, freshman Nico Lang struggled in the third round and shot nine over with a score of 80. He finished at 70-67-80=217 to tie for 21st place at four-over in his collegiate debut.

Junior Mark Goetz put together a solid round that moved him up 12 spots in the standings on the final day of play. He used a pair of birdies on his way to a one-over-par 72, moving into a tie for 30th place. Goetz totaled 73-74-72=219 for six-over in the tournament.

Senior Etienne Papineau carded scores of 76-72-75=223 to finish 10-over-par and in a tie for 50th.

West Virginia will travel to the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sept. 23-24. Wake Forest will play host to the event at the Old Town Club.

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via WVU Sports