MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (4/24/13) — The Arkansas State men's golf team recorded a final-round 301 Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, completing the 54-hole tournament played on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals in eighth place with a combined 906.

Arkansas State ended Monday's opening round in seventh place after recording a 300, but tacked an additional five strokes onto that total in the second round that dropped it one spot in the standings.

Play on Wednesday was scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m., but a weather delay several hours long pushed the start times back to 11:30 a.m.  Even with strong winds remaining after the rain subsided, four of A-State's five players were able to post scores that moved them up in the individual standings.  However, the Red Wolves remained in the same team position, finishing six strokes behind seventh-place Louisiana-Lafayette.

A-State was led by two juniors finishing among the top-25 individuals, including Easton Key and Chance Holden.  Key collected his third top-20 finish of the season, claiming a tie for 18th place with a combined 223.  Key, who shot a 74-75-74, jumped two places in the standings on the tournament's final day.

Holden recorded a final-round 74 to climb six places in the standings, finishing tied for 22nd with a combined 225.  The junior, who shot a 73 and 78 for the first and second rounds, respectively, picked up his fourth top-25 finish of the year.

“It was a long day with the weather delay, but I thought our guys played really well considering we started at about 6 a.m. and then didn't get to play until closer to noon,” said A-State head coach Steve Johnson.  “The golf course definitely played a lot harder than it has been with the rain and the front coming through.  I was excited to see Easton get another top-20 finish, and it was nice to see solid play from both Chance and Seth (Garner).”

Also competing for A-State, Garner finished tied for 31st place with a combined 228 (76-76-76), Wessel Zwiegers tied for 37th place with a 230 (77-76-77) and Matt Howton 53rd with a 246 (87-78-81).

North Texas claimed the tournament championship with an 871, while Georgia State shot an 876 to finish runner-up and South Alabama rounded out the top three with an 880 score.

ARKANSAS STATE RESULTS
Place, Name (RD 1-RD 2-RD 3--TOTAL)
8, Arkansas State (300-305-301--906)
T18, Easton Key (74-75-74--223)
T22, Chance Holden (73-78-74--225)
T31, Seth Garner (76-76-76--228)
T37, Wessel Zwiegers (77-76-77--230)
53, Matt Howton (87-78-81--246)