Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's golf team shot a 54-hole total of 897 to place ninth at the Saint Leo Invitational Tuesday in Dade City, Fla.
 
The 12-team tournament was held at the par 72 Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club. This is one of the toughest fields UNK men's golf has even faced as half the field is ranked in the Golfstat and GCAA (Golf Coaches Association of America) Top 27.

The Lopers had rounds of 294, 301 and 302 to beat the Tampa Spartans (900), Eckerd College Tritons (927) and Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish (934). The Wilmington College (DE) Fighting Quakers were one stroke ahead of UNK in eighth.

 
The third-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks won thanks to a 19-under par 845. No. 16/20 Lee (Tenn.) University was second with an 11-under 853 with the host SLU Lions third (5-under 859).
 
Individually for UNK, Bancroft senior Preston Peters came in 21st with a 4-over 220 (73-75-72). His tournament included seven birdies and 36 pars. Next, Hebron junior Jay Cottam shot a 6-over 224 (74-72-76) to tie for 24th. He had 39 pars, tied for second most in the field.
 
NSU senior Juan Jose Guerra was the medalist thanks to a 15-under par 201 (66-66-69). He managed 19 birdies among his 54 holes.
 
Also for the Lopers, English senior Brad Hill tied for 35th (225; 73-74-78), Kearney sophomore Cody Troudt tied for 44th (230; 74-80-76) and Kearney sophomore Austin Murray placed 71st (264; 81-89-84). Playing as an individual was Kearney junior Ryan Clark (262; 85-88-89).
 
UNK's next tournament comes March 19-20 at Awarii Dunes in Axtell.