OLD HICKORY, Tenn. -- Southeastern men's golf closed out play at the Music City Classic with a tie for 12th place, finishing at 13-over-par (877) after three rounds at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Competing in a 21-team field loaded with nationally-ranked programs, the Fire held steady across the two-day event and gained valuable experience against one of the stronger tournament lineups of the spring.
SEU opened with a 291 (+3) in round one and remained in the middle of the pack throughout the event. The Fire followed with a 294 (+6) in round two before closing with a 292 (+4) in the final round. While the team was unable to produce a low round to make a significant move up the standings, Southeastern maintained consistency and finished tied with Tennessee Wesleyan and Milligan, just seven strokes outside the top 10.
The tournament was controlled by No. 1 Keiser, which finished at 31-under (833), followed by No. 4 Webber International at 27-under (837). Grand View (-19) and Northwestern Ohio (-11) also posted strong showings, highlighting the depth of competition Southeastern faced.
Individually,
Zachary Shaw led the Fire with a three-round total of 219 (+3), placing 48th overall. Shaw's tournament was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 18th hole during the second round, and he continued to be one of Southeastern's most reliable scorers. He ranked tied for fourth in the field in par-5 scoring at 4.42 (-7), showing an ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Shaw added 10 birdies and 30 pars across his three rounds of 74, 71, and 74.
Gray Ottman,
Connor Williams, and
Marley Read each finished tied for 53rd at 220 (+4), giving Southeastern a tightly grouped trio in the standings. Ottman opened with a 71 (-1) and recorded seven birdies along with an eagle, which came on the par-5 18th hole in the final round. His ability to generate scoring chances helped offset a tougher closing round.
Williams delivered one of the steadiest performances for the Fire, carding rounds of 72, 74, and 74. He finished with nine birdies and 34 pars, consistently avoiding big numbers and keeping himself in position throughout the event.
Read showed the most improvement over the course of the tournament. After opening with back-to-back rounds of 75 (+3), he surged in the final round with a 70 (-2), one of the better scores posted during the final round across the field. Read's consistency stood out, as he finished tied for second in the entire field with 39 pars, emphasizing his control and ability to limit mistakes.
Scott Starbuck rounded out the lineup with a 66th-place finish at 223 (+7). He posted rounds of 74, 75, and 74 while recording 10 birdies and 29 pars. His steady presence helped Southeastern maintain its position in a tightly contested middle portion of the leaderboard.
At the top of the individual standings, Keiser's Iver Sokhan-Sanj claimed medalist honors at 15-under (201), fueled by a second-round 63 (-9). Marian's Weston Ogden followed at 13-under (203), while Keiser's Jack Peters and Indiana Wesleyan's Sam Dykema tied for third at 11-under (205).
Southeastern will now turn its attention to postseason play at The Sun Conference Championship, scheduled for April 19–21 in West Palm Beach, Florida, at The Fountains Golf Club. The three-day event will begin Sunday and run through Tuesday, with the Fire looking to carry momentum into one of the most important tournaments of the season.
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