Eagles win The Buddy in record-setting fashion

MURRAY, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf used a record-setting 844 (284-272-288) to win The Buddy in Murray, Kentucky. The tournament was hosted by Murray State University Monday and Tuesday at the Miller Memorial Golf Course.
 
The Screaming Eagles led the tournament from start to finish, beginning with a first round of 284 to lead by six strokes. USI would build an insurmountable lead in the second round by tying a program record for the second time this season with a 272 and leading the field by nine strokes.
 
The 272 tied the USI 18-hole record that was set two weeks ago in the second round of Derek Dolenc Invitational.  
 
USI had three players under 70 in the second round with senior Jace Day (Bloomington, Indiana) and junior Sam Vertanen (Ames, Iowa) each posting a 66, while junior Jason Bannister (Laguna Nigel, California) had a 67 to round out the Eagles top three. The 66 by Day and Vertanen is tied for third best round in the history of the program.
 
In the final round, USI fell off its torrid second round pace, posting a 288 and finishing with a record-breaking 844 over the three rounds. The 844 broke the USI 54-hole mark that was set at the McKendree Bearcat Dual (853) in the fall of 2021.  
 
Individually, Day won the tournament with a seven-under and USI-54-hole individual record of 206 (70-66-70) after three rounds. Day’s 206 broke the record set by Bannister, who posted a 208 (72-65-71) at the Derek Dolenc Invitational in September. 
 
Day was followed on the USI team by Bannister, who tied for sixth with a three-under 210 (72-67-71), and Vertanen, who tied for 13^th with an even par 213 (74-66-73).
 
The final tournament of the fall for the Eagles is October 28-29 when they play in the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, hosted by KWC at the The Pearl Club in Owensboro, Kentucky.