Tuesday, October 8
Bridgeport, WV
All Day
Rice University
at
Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational
Jake Benson Ties for Second at Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational
10/8/2019 8:16:00 PM | Men's Golf
Bridgeport, W.V. — Junior Jake Benson closed his second round with a 71, then fired a final round 70 to finish one-under par and tied for second-place at the Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational, hosted by West Virginia and played at the par-72, 7,308-yard Pete Dye Golf Club.
It is his second top-five finish of the year and fourth of his career. With his runner-up finish, he becomes the first Owl to finish in the top 10 in the first three tournaments and the top five of two of the first three since Jeff Makohon in 1991-92.
Benson has now recorded rounds of par or better in seven of his nine rounds this year and has 30 in his career.
Rice closed with rounds of 293-300 to finish 39-over par in eighth-place.
Senior Nicholas Duggan and sophomore Harrison Hineline tied for 38th-place at 13-over par. Duggan finished with rounds of 77-79 while Hineline closed with a 72-78. The 72 was his third round or par or better this year and the eighth of his career.
Sophomore Austin Escamilla tied for 51st-place at 18-over par after carding rounds of 73 and 76. Junior Rishi Kejriwal finished 21-over par and tied for 65th-place after posting rounds of 78-76.
"There were too many big numbers this week for us to contend," said Rice head coach Justin Emil. "We learned a lot playing in a different part of the country in some difficult conditions. It was a good experience for us moving forward. I'm really excited for Jake and the way he is playing right now is fun to watch."
West Virginia won the tournament at even par, three strokes in front of Florida Atlantic. Youngstown State's Kevin Scherr earned individual medalist honors at three-under par.
Rice returns to the links Oct. 26-27 when it closes the fall schedule at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational in Loxley, Ala.
It is his second top-five finish of the year and fourth of his career. With his runner-up finish, he becomes the first Owl to finish in the top 10 in the first three tournaments and the top five of two of the first three since Jeff Makohon in 1991-92.
Benson has now recorded rounds of par or better in seven of his nine rounds this year and has 30 in his career.
Rice closed with rounds of 293-300 to finish 39-over par in eighth-place.
Senior Nicholas Duggan and sophomore Harrison Hineline tied for 38th-place at 13-over par. Duggan finished with rounds of 77-79 while Hineline closed with a 72-78. The 72 was his third round or par or better this year and the eighth of his career.
Sophomore Austin Escamilla tied for 51st-place at 18-over par after carding rounds of 73 and 76. Junior Rishi Kejriwal finished 21-over par and tied for 65th-place after posting rounds of 78-76.
"There were too many big numbers this week for us to contend," said Rice head coach Justin Emil. "We learned a lot playing in a different part of the country in some difficult conditions. It was a good experience for us moving forward. I'm really excited for Jake and the way he is playing right now is fun to watch."
West Virginia won the tournament at even par, three strokes in front of Florida Atlantic. Youngstown State's Kevin Scherr earned individual medalist honors at three-under par.
Rice returns to the links Oct. 26-27 when it closes the fall schedule at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational in Loxley, Ala.