UT golfer wins Inverness Collegiate, Rockets place third

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Senior Dugan Murphy captured the Inverness Intercollegiate title Tuesday with a career-low 66 to help Toledo post a third-place team showing.

Originally scheduled for 54 holes, the event was shortened to 18 holes after heavy rains Monday left the par-71, 7,255-yard course unplayable.

Murphy, who began play today at the 11th hole, birdied three of his first eight holes before stringing together seven straight pars. Birdies on the par-five No. 8 and par-four No. 9 holes secured his first tournament win as a collegian. The next closest individuals were Kent State’s Taylor Pendrith and Florida’s TJ Vogel, who tied for second place at one-under par 71.

“With about three holes to go, I thought I had a chance to win it, because I saw some of my buddies starting to watch me play,” Murphy said. “I just tried to take it one shot at a time and get a par on every hole. It’s definitely a surreal feeling, and it really hasn’t set in for me yet.”

Toledo Head Coach Jamie Mauntler said, “Dugan’s worked really hard, and it’s great to see him win. His game’s really come around over the last two weeks and, with a score like that, he would’ve beaten anybody out there. I think what impressed me even more than his 66 was the fact that he had a clean scorecard without any bogeys. It’s certainly something he can build on and get even better.”

The Golden Flashes captured the team title at three-over par 287, four strokes in front of second-place Liberty (291) and five ahead of the Rockets. UT’s third-place finish was its best in the eight-year history of the tournament.

Freshman Jamie Richardson also produced a solid outing for the Rockets, posting a three-over par 74 to tie for 17th place. After bogeying his first two holes, he parred all but one of his remaining 16 holes.

Freshman Chris Selfridge tied for 25th place at four-over par 75 and played his final 12 holes at one-over par. Rounding out the Rockets’ lineup were senior Michael Cermak tied for 39th place at six-over par 77 and freshman Mike Lancaster tied for 65th place at 10-over par 81. Also competing for Toledo as individuals were freshman Patrick Cermak (T-46th/78), sophomore Oliver Holtsberry (T-54th/79), senior Matt Fuller (T-65th/81) and redshirt freshman Nate Gonring (69th/82).

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