Final Results
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – SIUE fired a 281 Tuesday to come from behind to capture the 2021 Missouri State Twi Oaks team title. Zak Butt turned in a career-low 67 in the final round to earn Individual Medalist honors, his first title as a Cougar.
SIUE started the round fourth and were seven shots back of the lead when the day began.
"We played really well all week," SIUE Head Coach Derrick Brown said. "We knew the way to come from behind was to finish strong. We played to the end. The finishing holes at Twin Oaks are hard and we excelled on those holes. It took a lot of mental toughness."
The Cougars turned in a 54-hole total of 858, which is tied for sixth-lowest total in SIUE history. Tuesday's 281 is tied as the ninth-lowest single round in school history.
The win is the second in a row for the Cougars at Twin Oaks. SIUE won the 2019 event. The 2020 tournament was not played due to the pandemic.
"We've been very consistent there," Brown said of Twin Oaks. "We don't put up the big numbers there."
Butt carded back-to-back rounds in the 60s and his 54-hole total of 207 is tied as the 10th lowest total in school history. Tuesday's final-round 67 is among the top 20 lowest rounds at SIUE.
"I am really proud of Zak," Brown said. "He's been playing well since winning the home dual, but this was kind of his breakout. We knew he had this in him. With the depth of the field, to beat 107 golfers anytime is impressive."
Anthony Ruthey posted a final-round 70 (-2) and finished at 216 for the tournament to tie for 12th place. His 216 checks in among the 50 lowest individual 54-hole totals at SIUE.
Parker McEachern (219) finished tied for 25th. TJ Baker tied for 50th at 223 and Brooks Jungbluth tied for 68th at 226.
Connor Neighbors played as SIUE's individual and finished tied for 85th at 230.
"For Zak to comeback as he did and for the team to come back and finish," Brown continued. "Those are two huge accomplishments."
