Results: 2018 AAC Championship
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (SMU) –The SMU men's golf team fired a 4-under 280 on day three of the 2018 American Athletic Conference to secure runner-up honor Tuesday. The Mustangs have now finished in the top-two in three of the four championships in which they have competed in since joining The American.
"Today was one of our best team efforts of the season, as all five guys played well," SMU head coach Jason Enloe said. "The thing I am the most proud of was that the entire group fought until the final putt dropped. It could have been easy to let go once we fell out of contention, but these kids' character and determination showed through. I'm proud to have coached these boys this year and look forward to having the young ones back next year."
On the Cooperhead Course, which hosts the PGA Tour Valspar Championship, the Mustangs blistered the front nine, posting a team score of 8-under par before settling at 4-under for the round. Despite the blemishes on the back nine, the team score of 280 was the second-lowest of the day and third-best of the entire championship.
All five SMU student-athletes finished in the top 25. Senior Gray Townsend (72-70-71 – 213) and freshman McClure Meissner (71-72-70 – 213) led the Mustangs over the course of the weekend, both finishing tied for fifth at even par. In his final round as a Mustang, Townsend shot even on day three. Meissner, completing his first conference tournament, shot 1-under par.
Daniel Connolly, Noah Goodwin and Jackson Markham all finished the event tied for 24th at 8-over par. Connolly guided SMU in the third round, carding a 2-under 69. The San Francisco, native, carded an unblemished front nine, which featured three birdies. Goodwin tallied a 1-under 70 to close out the tournament. After an even front half, the newcomer carded two birdies on the back nine. Markham finished with a 3-over 74.
As a team, SMU finished at 10-over par (290-292-280 – 862). Host-school No. 21 USF won the tournament at 10-under par, while UCF finished third at 13-over par (865).
