Quilter posts career low score; Men finish 7th at OUAZ Invitational

(Surprise, AZ)  With weather conditions back to normal, The Park University Gilbert golf teams finished play at the OUAZ Fall Invitational today at the Sterling Grove Golf Course in Surprise, Ariz. The men battled to finish in seventh while Sammie Quilter posted her best tournament as a Buccaneer with a final score of 252 and a career best 81.

Round two of the tournament, which was postponed yesterday due to inclement weather 10 holes in, was completed this morning with the Buccaneers moving up one spot to seventh place after being in eighth when play was stopped. Noah Blaickner posted a one-over 73 in round two while both Josh Smithand Gunnar Hurt carded 75’s. As a team, the Buccaneers improved by five strokes in the second round. Quilter posted a second round 85 which brought her 36-hole total to 171, a new career low, besting her previous best 36-hole score of 176.

In the final round, the men struggled, falling as far back as ninth at one point before rebounding to finish the round where they started in seventh. Freshmen Blaickner and Josh Smith both carded final rounds of 76 to post the best score of the round for the team, while the senior Hurt shot a 5-over par 77. Junior Max Callerman posted an 80 and Jason Smith carded an 88. As a team, the Bucs shot their worst round of the tournament at 309 but saw flashes of what could be as the newcomers get more comfortable in a collegiate tournament setting.

Quilter had a career best final round 81 to place 31st with a total score of 252. Quilter, who has slowly improved in each and every tournament over the last season, continues her ascension up the scoreboard in tournaments. Last year in the first tournament of her collegiate career, Quilter shot 306 over 54 holes and this year she finished 54 strokes better. Gransen, the Bucs top player a year ago, finished with a final round 90. The women only had two players participating today and were not eligible for a team score.

The Buccaneers return to the links next week in Prescott, Ariz., as they will participate in the Embry-Riddle Fall Invitational at the Antelope Hills Golf Course on October 9-10 (Sunday-Monday).