TOPEKA, Kan. – Missouri Western Men’s Golf began play in its first competition of the spring season at the Washburn Invitational on Monday. Patrick McCarthy is tied for the lead and the Griffons are third in the team standings after the first two rounds on the tournament.

Missouri Western sits in third after a combined team score of 301 in the first round and 302 in the second. The Griffons are just two strokes back of Concordia – St. Paul for second place. Washburn played an impressive first two rounds and holds a significant 14-stroke lead over the rest of the field.

McCarthy tied for first over the first two rounds after shooting a 69 (-2) in the first round and a 74 (+3) in the second. His first-round score of 69 also tied for the best single-round score of the day. McCarthy was consistent throughout the day, leading the field with 25 pars. He also shot an impressive two-under on par-five holes and totaled five birdies over the two rounds.

Also landing in the top-10 for the Griffons was Jett Simmons, whose combined score of 150 (+8) ties him for ninth place heading into Tuesday. Simmons finished with 23 pars, with his best round coming in the first when he shot a 74 (+2).

Tom Buffington was next on the individual leaderboards for Missouri Western. Buffington struggled early on Monday, shooting an 80 (+8) in the first round. However, Buffington bounced back for a score of 74 (+2) in the second round.

Lucas Horseman and Axel Johansson both shot a 159 to tie for 31st after the first two rounds.

Missouri Western Men’s Golf will continue play in Topeka on Tuesday morning.

— MWSU Athletics —