2011 Bruce Williams Memorial Invitational
Location: Dominion Country Club • San Antonio, Texas
Result: Lions finish seventh out of 11 teams (50-over 914)
Top Finisher: Patrick Russo finishes eighth (6-over 222)
Up Next: Lion Fall Invitational • Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 • The Tribute Golf Club (The Colony, Texas)

Final Results (PDF)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Patrick Russo shot a career-low 3-under 69 and A&M-Commerce posted a 14-over 302, the third-lowest round of the day, over the final 18 holes of the 2011 Bruce Williams Memorial Invitational at the Dominion Country Club. Russo finished eighth in the individual standings, the second top-10 finish of his career, while the Lions move up two spots to finish seventh out of the 11 team field.

Russo, who entered the final round tied for 23rd overall, found his groove over the final 18 holes, posting the career-best round of 3-under 69. It was the second-lowest round of the day as he moves up 15 spots to finish eighth overall with a 6-over 222. It also marks Russo's second top-10 finish as he notched a third-place finish at last season's Midwestern State Invitational.

Derek Rucki had an afternoon to remember as well, shooting a career-best even-par 72 over the final round to finish tied for 15th - the first top-20 finish of his Lion career. Rucki's 10-over 226 was 10 shots better than fellow freshman Jarret Martin's 20-over 236 after he posted an 8-over 80 in Tuesday's final round.

Chris Leasor posted a 22-over 238 for A&M-Commerce with Marcus Sanna rounding out the Lion scorecard with a 24-over 240.

A&M-Commerce, which began the day in ninth-place, rode its 14-over 302 to move up two spots in the team standings, giving the Lions their first top-10 team finish of the season with a 50-over 914. A&M-Commerce was able to move past both St. Mary's and the Incarnate Word black team, besting the Rattlers (53-over 917) by three strokes and defeating the Cardinals (58-over 922) by eight. The Lions were nearly able to run down sixth-place East Central (47-over 911), finishing three strokes back of the Tigers.

Abilene Christian used a round-low 9-over 297 to capture the team title with a combined 10-over 874 for the two-day tournament. The Wildcats held off second-place Northeastern State (15-over 879) by five strokes while finishing 13 shots ahead of third-place Incarnate Word (23-over 887). Newman (43-over 907) and Arkansas Fort-Smith (46-over 910) rounded out the top-five.

A&M-Commerce now prepares for its final tournament of the season, serving as the host institution for the Lion Fall Invitational at The Tribute Golf Club in The Colony, Texas. The Lions welcome nearly a dozen schools to North Texas for the 36-hole tournament, getting underway Monday, October 31 with the final round set for Tuesday, November 1.

2011 Bruce Williams Memorial Final Results

* - Competed as an individual