Fort Collins, Colo. - The Wichita State University men's
golf team won its second-consecutive tournament to open the fall season,
topping Colorado State University by one stroke at the Ram Master's
Invitational. Rafael Becker and Calvin
Pearson tied for fourth place to lead the Shockers.
Wichita State ended with a 19-over 859 to pace the 15-team
field at the Fort Collins Country Club.
WSU fired off a third round score of 288 to sneak past Nevada and stay
ahead of host Colorado State on Tuesday.
The Rams matched WSU's 288 while Nevada failed to hold a five-stroke
lead they built after the first two rounds of play.
Becker overcame a slow start to shoot 4-over (76-68-70=214)
while Pearson improved his score in each round (73-72-69=214) to reach his
highest finish since winning the Diet Pepsi Shocker Invitational in September
2011. It was Pearson's seventh career
top-10 finish and Becker's 12th.
Colorado State's Jordan Wetsch carded a third-round-best 67
on Tuesday to rally for medalist honors.
He finished at even-par (70-73-67=210) at the 7,121-yard, par-70 Fort
Collins Country Club.
Hunter Sparks placed 16th for the Shockers at
7-over (69-73-75=217) while Chandler Rusk came in 24th. Tyler Gann tied for 31st and Alec
Heinen, competing as an individual, tied for 41st.
Wichita State's victory on Tuesday marked the team's eighth
tournament title since the beginning of last season, a span of 15
competitions. The Shockers have won six
of the last nine tournaments they have played, dating back to March 20,
2012.
The Shockers return to action next week at the VCU Shootout
in Richmond, Va. Last fall, WSU placed
third out of 15 teams in that tournament.
