Kirchner leads Trailblazers to Third-Place finish at Rend Lake Spring Invitational

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. – The Vincennes University Trailblazer golf team finished off another third-place finish Sunday at the Rend Lake College Spring Invitational, hosted at Franklin Co. Country Club in West Frankfort, Ill.

The tournament was shortened to a one-day 36-hole event held Sunday. Vincennes placed third for the second time this season.

Vincennes was paced by sophomore Bryce Kirchner (North Vernon, Ind.) who finished with a five-over 147 for the tournament after shooting a 73 in the first round of the day and a 74 in the afternoon.

Kirchner’s score was good for a third-place finish in the tournament field, just four shots off the leader.

Freshman Caleb Maris (Terre Haute, Ind.) was the second finisher for the Trailblazers, ending his day with a first round 81 and a second round 78 for 17th place.

Freshmen Luke VanDeventer (Columbus, Ind.) and Paxton Schwomeyer (Oakland City, Ind.) tied for 20th in the field, with VanDeventer shooting an 81 In the first round and an 80 in the second.

Schwomeyer was just as consistent with an opening round 80 and a second round 81.

Freshman Sam Stewart (Floyds Knob, Ind.) rounded out the Vincennes scorers with an opening round 80 and a second round 86 to earn a tie for 30th.

“Bryce had a great day finishing third in the tournament,” VU Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said of the tournament. “Bryce Kept telling me during the round that he didn’t have his best stuff, but he just kept grinding and was able to finish well. Sometimes golf can be unusual that way. When you don’t feel you are at your best but you still score well and the opposite can happen when you feel you hit the ball well but just can’t seem to score. Most of the time that comes down to putting, which is always a big difference maker.”

“Paxton struggled with just not being able to birdie and got on a streak of bogies and couldn’t get off of it,” Chattin added. “Both of those guys have to play well for us to move up in tournaments. Caleb Maris had his best round of the year with a 78 and would have had two 78’s, but he hit a cart path which kicked his ball out of bounds.”

The Trailblazers will look to carry some of their momentum into next week, when VU travels to The Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholas, Ky. to take part in the Garn Championships, Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30.

“Overall, it was a fair showing for us, but I believe we will improve when we get all the guys playing their best,” Chattin said. “It’s still early and the conditions aren’t the best yet.”