Jacksonville State won team honors and WKU climbed the leaderboard to finish fifth as played concluded at the inaugural WKU/Kenny Perry Invitational at The Club at Olde Stone on Tuesday.
Following play on Tuesday, former Hilltopper Kenny Perry presented the Jacksonville State squad with the trophy. The Gamecocks posted a final round score of 314, finishing two strokes ahead of Louisville. Akron's Charlie Bull earned top individual honors, finishing the event at nine-over par.
WKU sophomore Andy Gladden (Scottsburg, Ind.) posted his best career finish, ending the tournament in 15th place in just his third collegiate tournament. Sophomore Cameron Beal (Bowling Green) posted his fourth top 20 finish in his last six events for the Hilltoppers, finishing in a tie for 19th overall.
WKU, which is coached by Phillip Hatchett of Russellville, followed an outstanding round on Monday with the third-best round of the day on Tuesday. WKU shot 311, vaulting the Hilltoppers to a fifth place finish in the inaugural tournament in Bowling Green.
On Monday, WKU posted the best team score of the day. It was the first time that WKU had achieved that feat in a round since March 13, 2010 when the Hilltoppers' score of 292 was the best team score of the day in the third round of the 2010 Kauai Collegiate Cup at Wailua Golf Course in Kauai, Hawaii. Edelen and Will Beard (Bowling Green), two of WKU's participants in the round on Monday also registered recorded scores for the notable team score in 2010.
The finish was the second top five mark for the Hilltoppers in three tournaments this season.
Named in honor of former WKU Hilltopper Kenny Perry, the event marked the first home tournament for WKU Men's Golf in the Bowling Green area in recorded history. Hatchett is Western Kentucky University’s first full-time golf coach and is a former Topper himself.
For complete coverage of WKU Golf, visit the official website of WKU Athletics at www.wkusports.com.