Taking "The Next Opportunity" to return to the course this fall, Morehead State men's and women's golfers claimed a banner day, claiming a superfecta and perfecta across the men's and women's division at The Next Opportunity event at Keene Trace Golf Club.
The two-day event took place across both of Keene Trace's 18-hole championship golf courses as Monday's round took place at Champion Trace-the home of the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship-and Tuesday's round at Keene Run.
In the men's division, Morehead State claimed the top-four finishers as senior Zac Viminitz (-8) claimed medalist honors, finishing ahead of teammates and fellow seniors Cooper Collins (-6), Joe Muschong (-4), and Ryan Gillum (-3). The quarter also secured a combined four of the six sub-70 rounds at the event, headlined by Viminitz's final round and tournament-low 65.
Also competing for the Eagles were redshirt senior Michael Reed (T-13th; +8), sophomore Blake Evans (T-17th; +11), freshman Andrew Marrs (T-17th; +11), freshman Kyler Barton (19th; +13), and freshman Nolan Pierce (T-23rd; +16). Overall, the nine Morehead State men's golfers comprised the largest group in the field, which included golfers from Belmont, Campbellsville, Eastern Kentucky, Transylvania, and Western Kentucky.
In the women division, Morehead State's lone representatives, sophomore MacKenzie Neal (+2) and freshman Olivia Hensley (+10) outpaced the field by nine-plus strokes each, finishing first and second, respectively. The duo collected all three sub-80 rounds in the field with Neal firing the lone round at par (72) in Tuesday's final round.
In the team best ball competition, Collins and Muschong narrowly beat out the pairings of Evan Davis (Belmont) and Bogle Larue (Belmont), Gillum and Justin Warman (Campbellsville), winning by a single stroke, combining to finish at 15-under for the two-day event. Reed and Viminitz finished at 11-under and in fourth place while Hensley and Neal led the women's division at seven-under, placing fifth in the overall competition.
Other Morehead State pairings included Barton and Marrs (T-12th; E), and Evans and Pierce (14th; +3)
Women's Division
MacKenzie Neal [+2] (74-72-146) - 1st
Olivia Hensley [+10] (80-74-154) - 2nd
Men's Division
Zac Viminitz [-8] (70-65-135) - 1st
Cooper Collins [-6] (71-66-137) - 2nd
Joe Muschong [-4] (69-70-139) - 3rd
Ryan Gillum [-3] (71-69-140) - 4th
Michael Reed [+8] (76-75-151) - T-13th
Blake Evans [+11] (76-78-154) - T-17th
Andrew Marrs [+11] (81-73-154) - T-17th
Kyler Barton [+13] (83-73-156) - 19th
Nolan Pierce [+16] (74-85-159) - T-23rd
Team Best Ball
Cooper Collins/Joe Muschong [-15] (64-64-128) - 1st
Ryan Gillum/Justin Warman [-14] (67-62-129) - T-2nd
Michael Reed/Zac Viminitz [-11] (69-63-132) - 4th
Olivia Hensley/MacKenzie Neal [-7] (72-64-136) - 5th
Kyler Barton/Andrew Marrs [E] (75-68-143) - T-12th
Blake Evans/Nolan Pierce [+3] (70-76-146) - 14th
