Posted by Tim Drain - Wed, Mar 26, 2008 - [ Men's Golf ]
JACKSONVILLE - If not for one "WD," Lon Morris College would have posted a pair of W's at its own invitational golf tournament Tuesday at The Woods course.

With sophomore Trey Herring shooting the only red number in the final round in howling winds, the Bearcats defeated Tyler Junior College, 864-906, to win the men's division.
 
By JOE BUIE
Tyler Morning Telegraph
Staff Writer

Herring birdied his last three holes for a final-round 69 to spark the Lon Morris men, rated third in the NJCAA Division I head-to-head rankings by Golfstat. The Killeen Harker Heights graduate blistered the course all three days in shooting 7 under for the tournament.

"I got a couple of good breaks when I hit some bad shots ... everything you need to happen to have a good score," said Herring of the 69, which included a 30-foot putt on No. 17, which sparked him to another birdie on 18.

While not touching Herring's 54-hole total of 206, Wesley Worster (214) and Jaime Garcia (218) each posted a round in the 60s to finish second and third, respectively.

The fourth-place finisher may have been a surprise.

John Matthews, one of three TJC golfers playing as individual medalists, supported an opening-round 71 with a closing 72 to finish at 220. He edged out both Cody Blankenship and Marc Rice, who both had 222 to lead the Apaches to a team score of 906.

"I just played good," said Matthews, a freshman from South Africa. "I hit some good shots the first round. The second round, the putter went cold. Then today I chipped and putted good."

---

Lon Morris Invitational

At The Woods at Jacksonville

Men's Division

Final Standings - 1, Lon Morris, 293-277-294-864; 2, Tyler, 295-296-315-906; 3, Lon Morris No. 2, 323-306-333-962.

Overall Medalists - 1, Trey Herring, Lon Morris, 70-67-69-206; 2, Wesley Worster, Lon Morris, 72-68-74-214; 3, Jaime Garcia, Lon Morris, 74-69-75-218; 4, John Matthews, Tyler, 71-77-72-220; 5, (tie) Cody Blankenship, Tyler, 72-74-76-222; Marc Rice, Tyler, 73-73-76-222.

Lon Morris - Herring, 70-67-69-206; Worster, 72-68-74-214; Garcia, 74-69-75-218; James Searson, 77-81-77-235; Mikiel Tchobanian, 79-73-76-228.

Tyler - Davis Poscente, 81-71-79-231; Blankenship, 72-74-76-222; Sean Lyons, 77-79-86-242; Blaine Weiterman, 73-78-84-235; Rice, Tyler, 73-73-76-222.

Lon Morris No. 2 - Johnny McMillan, 76-75-81-232; John Jondle, 76-75-79-230; Riccardo Scarafile, 84-72-83-239; Taylor Cook, 87-84-91-262; Jason Naron, 87-90-90-267.

Tyler Medalists - Matthews, 71-77-72-220; Cody Bass, 76-76-81-233; Daniel Gibbins, 88-79-79-246.