Kumpula Returns To Lead Beavs In Final Round

Wednesday, October 26

Monterey, Calif.

All Day

Oregon State

Saint Mary's Invitational

Conner Kumpula

Photo by: Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics

October 26, 2016 | Men's Golf

Live Scoring

By: Oregon State Communications

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Conner Kumpula missed the second round of the Saint Mary's Invitational with an injury but returned on Wednesday to lead the Oregon State men's golf team on the final day of competition.

Kumpula, a senior from Albany, Ore., shot an even-par 71 at the par-71, 6,927-yard Poppy Hills Golf Course that helped the Beavers move up three spots and finish in a tie for seventh place in the 14-team field.

Oregon State concluded the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a 40-over 296-303-293--892 to tie Nevada for seventh. San Diego State won the team title with a 1-over 853, which was 12 shots better than second-place Saint Mary's (13-over 865).

Kumpula was pulled from the tournament midway through his second round with a shoulder injury. He responded in a big way on Wednesday with three straight birdies to open the round, and added another after the turn, to finish with a 71.

Junior Jonas Liebich had his best tournament of the fall season, finishing in a team-best tie for 13th place with an 8-over 77-71-73--221. It's the third time Liebich has recorded a top-15 finish after doing so twice last season (tie for 11th at the Redhawk Invitational and tie for 13th at the Saint Mary's Invitational).

Senior Kevin Murphy was consistent throughout the tournament, dropping in two birdies each round, to finish in a tie for 24th place with a 10-over 73-76-74--223.

Freshman Kyosuke Hara finished a stroke back of Murphy with an 11-over 73-76-75--224 for a tie for 34th place, while fellow frosh Shawn Lu finished in a tie for 67th with a 23-over 73-80-83--236.

Sophomore Tom Kerkvliet, who played as an individual, was sensational in just his third collegiate tournament, finishing in a career-best tie for 18th place with a 9-over 74-75-73--222. His previous best finish was 40th place while competing as an individual at the Husky Invitational last fall.

Only three players finished the tourney in red figures, led by Eduardo Carrete of Saint Mary's who took medalist honors with a 3-under 69-68-73--210.

The Beavers will conclude their fall season next week at the Duck Commander Intercollegiate, which is scheduled for Sunday through Tuesday in El Dorado, Ark.

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