MEN'S GOLF: YellowJackets win LeTourneau Spring Classic
LONGVIEW – The LeTourneau golf team turned in a combined score of less than 300 for the second consecutive round as the YellowJackets claimed first place at the 2011 LeTourneau Spring Classic by 23 strokes Tuesday at the Pinecrest Country Club.
Justin Weant fired a 1-under-par-69 during the third and final round Tuesday morning to win the individual championship with a three-round score of 218. The midyear transfer from Stephen F. Austin State leapfrogged four competitors Tuesday.
Weant's skills on the shorter holes keyed his run to the championship, as he finished 1-under-par on all par-3 holes at Pinecrest and was the only player to be under par on the par-threes. Weant also tied with Schreiner's Andy Bell with for a tournament-leading eight birdies.
Three LeTourneau players finished among the tournament's top seven to lead the YellowJackets to the victory. Jacob Clay came in second with a three-round score of 221. He held the lead after Monday's first two rounds after carding scores of 73 and 71 and birdied five holes during the tournament.
Spencer Rothluebber finished in a tie for sixth place after turning in rounds of 73, 71 and 79 for a two-day score of 227. Rothluebber had the lowest score on Pinecrest's par-four holes, accumulating a score of 4-over-par.
The YellowJackets finished with a three-round score of 896. LeTourneau players shot 302, 296 and 298 as a team during the event's three rounds and won their second consecutive tournament. The Jackets were also victorious at UT-Dallas two weeks ago.
The Jackets finished 23 strokes ahead of second-place Mississippi College. The Choctaws won second-place via tiebreaker over Schreiner.
YellowJacket golfers also birdied a tournament-high 24 holes on Monday and Tuesday.
LeTourneau's Steven Morris finished 12th out of 38 contestants with a three-round score of 230. His third-round score of 73 was the third-lowest score turned in Tuesday.
Weant, Morris and Clay were the event's top three competitors on par-3 holes.
LeTourneau's Eric Boone and Hayden Adams turned in scores of 240 and 243, respectively. Both players carded scores under 80 in the second of Monday's event.
The YellowJackets will compete in the American Southwest Conference championship tournament next week at Horseshoe Bay, located near Marble Falls, Texas.
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The LeTourneau golf teams, coaches Lauren Gentry and Doug Smith and athletic director Terri Deike express their thanks to Pinecrest Country Club and to PCC's Sean Hanson for his assistance and support during this week's event.
