GOLF: Clay, Nishimura turn in Top Ten finishes at the LeTourneau Spring Invitational

LONGVIEW – LeTourneau's Jacob Clay and Candice Nishimura both recorded Top 10 finishes at the LeTourneau University Spring Invitational, which concluded Tuesday.

At Longview's Pinecrest Country Club, Clay fired a 71 Tuesday to finish with a two-day score of 6-over-par-146, which tied for seventh place with Jamie Gibson of Centenary College.

As a team, the YellowJackets shot 615, finishing sixth out of 10 squads in the men's competition. LeTourneau players shot 300 on Tuesday to move up four places in the team standings.

Spencer Rothluebber also turned in two sub-77 scores, firing a 76 on Monday and a 74 Tuesday for a two-day score of 150. Rothluebber finished 14th out of 60 competitors.

Eric Boone and Hayden Adams had identical rounds of 82 and 79 for combined scores 161. Steven Morris finished a stroke behind, carding a 76 on Tuesday as part of his two-day score of 162.

Texas-Tyler won the team event with a two-day score of 574. The Patriots were led by individual tournament winner Matt Stephens. Louisiana College finished second with a team score of 586, followed by Schreiner with a score of 603.

The YellowJackets finished ahead of four American Southwest Conference teams – McMurry, Hardin-Simmons, Centenary College and Mississippi College.

LeTourneau freshmen Will Park and Jake Pope competed as individuals in the tournament. Park turned scores of 82 and 77 for a 159, while Pope shot a 200 during the two-day event.

Monday rains and lightning delayed the tournament three hours and cancelled the second round of the day. The men's competition was originally scheduled for three rounds.

In the women's competition, Nishimura turned in scores of 7-over-par-79 and a 9-over-par-81 to finish in ninth place. Nishimura's day included an eagle on the par-4, 10th hole when she holed out from approximately 150 yards away.

The men's golf team heads to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas next week for its final tuneup before the ASC Tournament. The ASC Championship Tournament takes place April 16 and 17 in Lufkin, Texas.