Four Drovers Fight into the Top 10

USAO ends their fall season with a 2nd and 4th place team finish

October 24, 2023

Conner Cryer, Luca Gisler, and Tucker McDonald take a minute to chat before their next shots earlier in the season.

USAO’s men’s golf team played in the Sand Creek Intercollegiate Invitational for their final tournament of the fall season. The tournament hosted 14 teams and was played at the Sand Creek Station Golf Course (Par 72, 6747 yards). The original plan was to play two rounds across two days, beginning Monday, Oct. 23; however, due to high chances of rain, the teams played both rounds Monday.

The Drovers brought an A and a B team to the tournament. USAO’s A team finished 2nd overall, a mere six shots behind the champions, Ottawa. The men shot 300 (+12) in the first round and 299 (+11) in the second. USAO’s B team placed 4th overall after recording rounds of 307 (+19) and 300 (+12).

The team was comprised of nine players, who split into two teams. USAO’s A team included Conner Cryer, Jax Brewer, Jaeden Ellis, Tate Trotter, and Cooper Hardison.

Ellis and Brewer tied for 7th place. Brewer battled the wind to shoot a 75 (+3) in his first round and improved to a 73 (+1) in his second round. Ellis continued a consistent streak by shooting two rounds of 74 (+2).

Hardison tied for 10th place after rounds of 73 (+1) and 76 (+4). Cryer earned a tied 25th place finish after tallying rounds of 78 (+6) and 77 (+5). Trotter rounded out the A team with rounds of 84 (+12) and 76 (+4), which earned him a tied 42 finish.

USAO’s B team included Caleb Smith, Luca Gisler, Luke O’Dell, and Tucker McDonald.

Smith played alongside teammates Ellis and Brewer as he finished tied for 7th. He saw rounds of 76 (+4) and 72 (E), which was the team’s lowest round score. O’Dell followed closely with a tied 12th place finish after shooting rounds of 74 (+2) and 76 (+4).

Gisler was only a few strokes behind his teammate with rounds of 78 (+6) and 74 (+2) for a tied 18th finish. McDonald returned into the lineup to earn himself a tied 34th finish as he shot rounds of 79 (+7) and 78 (+6).

The men will be back in action for their spring season starting in early March, according to the Drover Athletics website.

Emily Loughridge is a third-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

About the Contributor

Emily Loughridge, Editor-in-Chief

Emily is a third-year communication major from Union City. Emily is obtaining a minor in psychology, as well. She has been on staff for The Trend since the fall of 2021 and loves working with the writers on ideas! Emily also works in the Sports Information Department on campus as the Student Assistant, where she takes photos of the various athletic events and assists with the live broadcast. When she isn't studying or working, Emily can normally be found watching Scrubs, Reba, or How I Met Your Mother and enjoying ice cream on the couch with her boyfriend. Experience with The Trend: Editor-in-Chief: Dec. 2022 - present Managing Editor: May 2022 - Nov. 2022 Contributing Writer: Aug. 2021 - April 2022