Adversity struck early in the day Sunday for the Western Kentucky men’s golf team, but it ended with the program’s best single round in more than 10 years in the first event under new coach Chan Metts.

The Hilltoppers carded an 11-under 277 as a team in the final round of Indiana’s Fuzzy Zoeller Invitational, their best round since also shooting a 277 at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in the spring of 2008.

WKU recorded scores of 68-69-70-70 in the closing round. The 277 was the best team score of the day and two strokes off the best team score of the entire tournament. The Hilltoppers were also one of two teams in the field to record a round with all four counting players under par.

“I’m very proud of the team,” Metts said in a news release. “They showed a lot of grit and toughness today. We played our best round of the tournament in the toughest conditions. Also, I’m very proud of how the new guys played this week. We will certainly take a few things away from this event that we can hopefully improve on and build on.”

Play was halted because of rain in the second round Saturday at the par-72, 7,174-yard Champions Pointe Golf Club in Henryville, Ind., and resumed Sunday morning. The Hilltoppers shot a 294 as a group in that segmented round before catching fire later in the third round.

WKU finished fourth in the 13-team field with an 862 (291-294-277) total. Southern Illinois won the title at 836.

Redshirt freshman Dawson McDaniel – playing in his first college tournament – paced the Hilltoppers with a 213 (72-72-69) total, tying him for 12th individually. The Bowling Green native tied for the third-best showing on par 3s (2-under) across the tournament.

“I’m more than excited with how we played this week,” McDaniel said. “I think overall we had a great attitude with the nasty conditions, and that made all the difference in how were able to finish strong. Personally, I couldn’t be happier with my play, and Coach Metts and my teammates encouraged me and kept me calm with all the nerves that come in tournament play. We have a lot of momentum right now as a team, and I know with every swing we will honor Coach Hatchett.”

After slipping a bit with a 76 in the second round, redshirt senior Billy Tom Sargent roared back with a 4-under 68 in the final round. He tied for 18th with a three-round total of 216 (72-76-68) and tied for third in total birdies (13) in the tournament.

Redshirt junior Linus Lo also found the top 25 with a 218 (74-74-70) total. Junior Tom Bevington was one shot back and tied for 27th at 219 (77-72-70). Both players carded their best three-round scores since the 2016-17 campaign.

Freshman Dominic Brettkelly finished with a 231 tally (73-78-80) in his first college outing.

WKU returns to action this weekend in the Louisville Cardinal Challenge, which runs Friday through Sunday.{&end}