Blue Raiders Finish Fourth; Wade Named All-Conference

Trophy Club, TX -Middle Tennessee struggled on the back-nine of the final round on Wednesday at the Trophy Club Course to finish in a tie for fourth at the 2001 Sun Belt Conference Golf Championships. The Blue Raiders, who were in second place going into the final 18 holes, shot a 299 to end the 54-hole event with an 894 total.

The Blue Raiders were 15 shots behind winner Arkansas-Little Rock, but only three shots separated them from second place Louisiana-Lafayette.

"We were having another solid day until we reached the back-nine," head coach Johnny Moore said. "We just made some poor decisions the last nine holes and it cost us probably at least a second place finish. But I am proud of these guys for the way they came down here and competed."

Junior J.R. Wade continued his solid play with a one-over par 73 to register a three-day total of 220, which was good enough for a tie for sixth place overall. Wade, an all-OVC performer in 2000, earned all-SBC honors this season by finishing in the top six.

Sophomore Patrick Williams, who had a 222 total, fired an even par 72 on Wednesday to tie for 13th. Dane Randle was alone in 24th with a 227, while John Beddies and Hunter Ingram registered a pair of 231s for a tie for 31st. Beddies, who shot a 73 in the second round, was two-under par on the front nine Wednesday before finding trouble on the back side and shooting nine over par for a 79.

TEAM RESULTS: UALR (301-289-289=879); Louisiana-Lafayette (308-294-289=891); Denver (302-294-297=893); Middle Tennessee (304-291-299=894); North Texas (302-304-288=894); Arkansas State (307-296-293=896); South Alabama (305-298-295=898); Western Kentucky (302-300-297=899); New Mexico State (310-303-306=920); Louisiana Tech (314-303-306=923); New Orleans (316-306-308=930).

MT SCORES: J.R. Wade (75-72-73=220; T6th); Patrick Williams (76-74-72=222; T13th); Dane Randle (77-72-78=227; 24th); John Beddies (79-73-79=231; T31st); Hunter Ingram (76-79-76=231; T31st).

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