Men’s Golf Recap
By: Connor Brown, Production Manager, FM88 Sports
Huntington, W.Va – Marshall men’s golf found itself in a position it had not experienced in quite some time during the final round of the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational.
The Thundering Herd had a chance to win.
Marshall returned to Guyan Golf and Country Club for its home tournament and entered Tuesday’s final round in a tightly contested field. Seven teams held the lead at some point during the final 18 holes, and Marshall built a four-to-five stroke advantage during its push for the tournament title.
The opportunity gave head coach Matt Grobe’s team valuable experience competing under pressure late in a tournament.
“At one point, we had the lead by four or five strokes,” Grobe said. “We haven’t really had a chance to win in a long time, honestly. And so for these guys to see their names up there and see us having a chance, you know, some people would say that we didn’t play as good as we wanted to, but at the same time, sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
Marshall eventually finished fourth at 10-under par, three strokes behind tournament champion Bellarmine.
Although the Herd came up short of the team championship, freshman Jackson Harris made his own run at an individual title.
Harris entered Tuesday’s final round at 3-under par before shooting a 5-under 66 to finish the tournament at 8-under. He recorded six birdies during the final round and finished tied for second place, two strokes behind Morehead State’s Remy Stalcup.
Harris battled through several difficult shots during the opening nine holes but found his rhythm as the round continued.
“I played well and hung in there even after some tough shots in the opening nine, and coach was very supportive even when I had some tough moments, but we stuck it out and played well,” Harris said.
Strong finishes have already become a theme for Harris early in his collegiate career.
Harris closed Marshall’s season-opening Virtues Intercollegiate with a 6-under 65. He followed that performance with another strong closing round at Guyan, where three birdies over his final six holes helped him climb near the top of the individual leaderboard.
Harris credited his experience in junior golf for preparing him to handle pressure late in tournaments.
“I played a lot of good junior golf and that also prepared me well,” Harris said. “Coming down the stretch, I love the pressure and I think I live for that. And that’s why I play golf, is to win, and I play to win always.”
Harris also relied on his confidence as he approached the final holes.
“Late in the day I was just telling myself I’m a closer and I’m great,” Harris said. “And that really helped me finish and keep rolling.”
The freshman’s early success has caught the attention of his head coach.
“Jackson Harris has been just an absolute – I don’t even know what the word I would say is. I’m excited,” Grobe said. “I’m shocked, I guess, would be the best thing to say. I mean, for a freshman to come in here and play as well as he did at the Virtues and then come right back here to our home event and play that good, that’s a pretty impressive start.”
Harris did not carry Marshall alone.
Fourth-year golfer Tanner Vest finished tied for 17th at 2-under par after rounds of 69, 68 and 74. Jackson Woodburn also ended the tournament on a strong note with a 2-under 69 during Tuesday’s final round.
With three freshmen on the roster, Marshall continues to develop its chemistry early in the season. Harris believes the Herd’s performance at its home tournament can provide momentum for the rest of the year.
“I think it’s great momentum for the team,” Harris said. “We’re all new to each other with the three freshmen on the team and just getting adjusted to the new school year and everything is, you know, a good start, but I think we’re picking up momentum and it’s going to be a good fall and good spring.”
Marshall left Guyan without the championship, but the Herd gained experience competing for a tournament title deep into the final round.
Grobe believes his players can use that experience the next time they enter a similar situation.
“When we get into that contention again, I feel like the guys will have the confidence to know, hey, we just got to — we got to do what we do and not worry about everybody else,” Grobe said.
Marshall will continue its fall schedule at the River Run Collegiate, hosted by Davidson, on Sept. 21-22. Harris will look to continue his strong start while the Herd attempts to build on a home tournament that put Marshall back in contention.