AMARILLO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's golf team wrapped up the season-opening Palmer Foundation Invitational in 12^th place on Tuesday.
 
The Lions had a 54-hole total of 877 (296-286-295, +25) in the first event of the 2019-20 season, falling one spot from the completion of play on Monday.
 
"It was clear that the men's team struggled to come together and play as a united team. Their performance this week was not how we intended to start the semester," said head coach Lauren Mason. "We were very rusty and unprepared. Our confidence levels were low across the board. One thing that our players did well was keeping a good attitude and a calm composure on course even when things weren't going their way.
 
"We have a couple of weeks off to prepare before our next event. We will continue to grind and work hard to ensure we arrive in Albuquerque ready to compete at the top of the leaderboard and not at the bottom."
 
Blake Hartford (Spring – Klein Collins) was the Lions' top finisher in 19^th place at 1-over par 214 (72-70-72). In Tuesday's final round, the senior had three birdies and tied for the Lions' best round of the day.
 
Joe Wolcik (Cleveland – Tarkington) placed 27^th at 218 (69-70-79, +5) with one birdie in Tuesday's round. Alex Welch (League City – Clear Springs) tied for the Lions' low round of the day at 72 on the way to a 41^st place finish at 219 (79-68-72) with one birdie. He finished the round with 11 consecutive pars.
 
Simon Haas (Lorch, Germany) placed 82^nd at 232 (78-78-76, +19) and Zach Burch (Lubbock – Cooper) finished in 85^th at 233 (77-81-75, +20).
 
The Lions have more than two weeks to regroup before their next competitive action, when they play in the Ruidoso Junior Golf Association's South Central Fall Preview in Albuquerque, N.M., on September 30 and October 1.
 

Rank	Team	Scores			Total	Par
1.	Oklahoma Christian	282	278	280	840	-12
2.	St. Mary's	283	286	280	849	-3
3.	St. Edward's	278	281	295	854	+2
4.	Midwestern State	284	289	284	857	+5
5.	Arkansas-Ft. Smith	285	285	289	859	+7
	Colorado St.-Pueblo	281	288	290	859	+7
	Hutchinson CC	284	291	284	859	+7
8.	Indian Hills CC	290	284	286	860	+8
9.	Central Oklahoma	288	291	287	866	+14
	Southwestern Oklahoma St.	280	291	295	866	+14
11.	Wayland Baptist	294	292	284	870	+18
12.	A&M-Commerce	296	286	295	877	+25
13.	West Texas A&M	290	294	295	879	+27
14.	Colorado Mesa	301	289	295	885	+33
	UT Tyler	295	293	297	885	+33
16.	Cameron	292	295	303	890	+38
17.	Lubbock Christian	300	307	294	901	+49

 

A&M-Commerce	296	286	295	877	+25	12th
Blake Hartford	72	70	72	214	+1	t-19th
Joe Wolcik	69	70	79	218	+5	t-37th
Alex Welch	79	68	72	219	+6	t-41st
Simon Haas	78	78	76	232	+19	t-82nd
Zach Burch	77	81	75	233	+20	t-85th