Michael Barnard finished tied for fifth in the final round of stroke play at the CUSA Championship, leading the Blue Raiders, who placed fifth overall. Middle Tennessee missed match play by just two shots, finishing with a team score of 878 (+14) after shooting 291 (+3) in the final round. Barnard shot a three-under par 69 to tie for fifth individually with a total of 215 (-1).

By the Numbers
  • 3.17: Middle Tennessee averaged 3.17 strokes per hole on Par 3s, tying for the best in the tournament.
  • 4.95: The team's stroke average on Par 5s was 4.95, tied for the worst in the field.
Yes, But

Coach McEntire expressed disappointment in the team's performance, highlighting struggles with chipping, putting, and execution on a challenging course.

State of Play
  • LA Tech secured the top seed for match play, followed by Sam Houston, Liberty, and UTEP.
  • Middle Tennessee missed match play for only the second time in six years at the CUSA Championship.
What's Next

The Blue Raiders will regroup and focus on improving their performance for future competitions, learning from the challenges faced at the Championship.

Bottom Line

Despite a strong individual performance from Barnard, Middle Tennessee's team performance fell short, prompting the need for reflection and strategic improvements to excel in upcoming tournaments.