Three Bobcats solved the par-72, 6,921-yard Oasis Golf Club Course, setting or tying personal bests at this week's Xavier Invitational.
The team however, finished seventh in a 19-school field, thanks to a slow start and a fishy finish.
Senior Brian Bickle shot a personal best 68 coupled with a 74, giving him a total of 142 after 36 holes.
Juniors Mark Cimarolli and Ryan Siekmann also played well, tying their career bests during the tournament. Cimarolli tied an all-time low Monday with a 69 following a solid first round of 72. Conversely, Siekmann started slowly, but finished by tying his personal best of 67 in the final round.
Cimarolli played the most consistent tournament, shooting no higher than an even par 72.
He attributed his success to trusting his swing and simply not thinking about it.
I didn't think about my swing all day
Cimarolli said. I did what I knew how to do without letting my head get involved.
Siekmann said his steady play late yielded little consolation, as a collective lapse at the end cost the Bobcats 8 shots.
We screwed up at the end Siekmann said. We hit two balls in the water on 18 and one on 16 and 17 that counted.
The men struggled with consistency during the first two rounds of the Xavier Invitational on Monday, with several scores in the high 70s, contributing to the team's totals and essentially wiping out the solid performances of Bickle and Cimarolli, coach Bob Cooley said.
The Bobcats, however, showed improvement in the final round yesterday, shooting an even par 288, two strokes fewer then the back-to-back rounds of 290 they shot Monday.
We had a little better balance in our team scoring Cooley said of his team's performance in the final round.
Overall, Cooley said he is happy with the way the team played late; they moved up three spots in the final round, but their game was not flawless as the shots into the water hurt, he said.
Senior Brian Elsea (77-81-76) and junior Grant Christman (80-71-74) also contributed for the Bobcats.
Ohio will be back in action Oct. 24 and 25 as they try to top the competition at the 49er Collegiate Classic in Charlotte, N.C.
Women have strong day
Similar problems proved to be the bugaboo for the women's team as well. Bunkers, trees, and water were all over the course, Ohio assistant coach Jeff Hetler said.
We were hitting into trouble everywhere
Hetler said. On top of that
we would three put when we were in position.
Seniors Ana Brown (78-75-83) and Julie Tomlinson (82-73-76) led the Bobcats, with juniors Kristen Mautz (78-79-82) and Meredith Waterston (85-78-79), and also sophomore Katie Stafford (85-86-88) contributing.
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Ben Stroup
