INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- In the end, as in the beginning, it wasn't even close. The University of Evansville men's golf team put together the three lowest rounds of the tournament in easily winning the Butler Fall Invitational this afternoon at Eagle Creek Golf Course. After pulling ahead by 17 strokes after 36 holes on Monday, coach Jim Hamilton's Aces wrapped up the title with a score of 284 today to finish at 842 as a team, 19 shots in front of runnerup IUPUI.
Junior Michael Sainz shot 69 today following two rounds of 66 on Monday to win medalist honors in the 66-player tournament at 12-under-par 201. His closest competitor was his teammate, freshman Parker Hensley, at 5-under-par 208. Junior Griffin Wood tied for fifth after shooting 72 today to finish at even par 213.
"I'm extremely proud of them," Hamilton said. "Today it was cooler and the wind blew harder, but our scores were still good. We're a pretty darn good team. We should be toward the top in any tournament we play in."
Added Sainz, "It was a great week for our team. Knowing we won by 19 is a pretty good feeling."
Sainz's pair of 66s on Monday included a chip-in and an eagle when he holed out from a bunker. He admitted being nervous going into today's final round with a six-shot lead.
"On the first hole today, I hit the worst shot of the tourney and made bogey," Sainz admitted. "I was definitely nervous, but I felt a little more used to that experience after having the lead in a couple events this summer. I just tried to make pars today, and then fortunately got a couple birdies toward the end."
Tuesday's win was Evansville's third at the Butler Invitational, following titles in 2008 and 1994. It was the Aces' second tournament title in as many years. The 2009-10 squad won the Ball State Collegiate in March at Sultan's Run Golf Course in Jasper.
BUTLER FALL INVITATIONAL TEAM SCORES: 1. Evansville 842; 2. IUPUI 861; 3. Butler 870; 4. Wisconsin-Green Bay 886; 5. Cornerstone 887; 6. Valparaiso 889; 7. Indiana Wesleyan 893; 8. Eastern Illinois 895; 9. IUPUI-B 909; 10. DePauw 927; 11. Chicago State 968.
EVANSVILLES SCORES: 1. Michael Sainz 66-66-69=201; 2. Parker Hensley 71-67-70=208; T5. Griffin Wood 72-69-72=213; T25. Andrew Luo 76-75-73=224; T35. Tim Simmons 74-73-79=226; T42. Josiah Ashba 72-79-77=228; T45. Neal Millay 75-81-73=229; 51. Craig Niemeier 78-79-74=231.
