HOUSTON – Aydan Downer closed with an even-par 71 on Tuesday to lead the Central Michigan men’s golf team during the final round of the Colin Montgomerie HCU Husky Invitational at TPC Houston.
Downer’s 71, his second of the three-round tournament, led the Chippewas to a 291 team score, their best round of the three that comprised the tournament.
The 291 tied for the second-best team score in the final round behind three squads that shot 288.
“We competed a lot better, competed more of the way that we’re capable of competing and throughout this trip we continued to improve our scoring and it’s always good to see the guys play closer to the level they’re capable of playing,” CMU coach Kevin Jennings said. “Yesterday I reminded them of who they are and challenged them to play to that level.
“Seeing them move in that direction and put both hands on what we’re trying to do is encouraging and promising towards us continuing to improve.”
The Chippewas finished with an 882 total, good for ninth place in the 15-team field. CMU began the final round tied for 11th. CMU’s final round team score was a three-shot improvement over its second-round 294 and was six shots better than its opening-round 297.
Downer and teammate Philippe Yturralde both finished at 4-over 217. Yturralde closed with a 1-over 72. The pair tied for 22nd in the 83-player field.
It was an encouraging performance for Downer, a sophomore playing in just his third tournament as a Chippewa after transferring to CMU.
He shot a 5-under 67 in his first round with the Chippewas a month ago at the Lake Jovita Invitational. He had averaged 81.2 in his five rounds since that opening 67 before posting his twin 71s and a 75 at TPC Houston. His two 71s and Yturralde’s second-round 71 were the low rounds by CMU players in the 54-hole event.
“Aydan is an exceptionally solid ball striker, like many of the guys we have on the team,” Jennings said. “And like the other guys, it’s just a matter of getting him coached up, getting him to understand how to utilize his skill set to be his best as he gets around the golf course.
“I think that we’re getting closer and closer and he’s beginning to see and understand exactly where his game is headed.”
Also for the Chippewas on Tuesday, Keith Hunter shot 2-over 73, Jeffrey Andrus Jr. posted a 4-over 75, and Hudson Vedder carded a 79.
Andrus and Hunter both finished at 11-over 224 and tied for 48th. Vedder finished at 244.
Howard’s Francisco Perez shot a final-round 1-under 70 to finish with a 199 total to claim medalist honors and lead the Bison to a first-place finish. Perez finished two shots ahead of Brandon Willey (68) of host Houston Christian.
The Bison posted a final-round 288 to finish at 17-under 835. Houston Christian (288) was second with 848.
The Chippewas will host the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational at Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif. on March 23-24.
