Sept. 12, 2011

Gopher Invitational - Results

WAYZATA, Minn. (SMU) - In his first tournament at the helm of the SMU men's golf program, Josh Gregory helped guide the Mustangs to a fourth-place finish at the Gopher Invitational at Spring Hill Golf Club in Wayzata, Minn.

"We didn't play our best, but it was a good start to the year," Gregory said. "We had a chance to win going into the last day, and with nine holes to play. If we would've played a great back nine, we would have won, but to finish fourth and have four guys finish in the top 27 is a great start to build on. With some more work, we're going to be a darn good team by the end of the year."

Senior Marc Sambol paced the squad, shooting a 220, four-over par for the three-round tournament to finish in ninth place.

"He's going to be a great player," said Gregory of Sambol. "He wants to be an All-American. He's a grinder. He didn't play his best today unfortunately, but to finish in the top 10 is very respectable. To come out and finish in the top 10 in the first event of his senior year is very solid and gives him a great start to the year so he can achieve his goals."

Max Buckley (+7), Harry Higgs (+8) and Matt Schovee (+9) weren't too far off Sambol's pace, with all four golfers finishing in the top 27. The balanced scoring led to a finish that was five spots higher than SMU finished at the Invite in 2010.

SMU will be back in action on Sept. 26 as the team heads to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Invitational.