Sept. 16, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's golf team finished in fourth place at the Charles Woody West Texas Invitational, which was held Monday and Tuesday at the par-71, Diamondback Golf Club in Abilene, Texas.

The Cowboys finished the two-day event with a 290-314--604, which was three strokes better than MCMurry the second-highest Division III team. Northeastern State of Oklahoma won the title by one stroke over St. Mary's, 592-593. Cameron University finished third at 601.

Chris Phillips and Nick Atkinson led the Cowboys with two-day totals of 150, good for a tie for ninth place. Phillips shot 73-77 and Atkinson shot 70-80. Brian Levretz (77-77--154), Ryan Salinas (75-80--185) and Clint Wellhausen (72-84--156) rounded out the Cowboy lineup.

Aaron Shipley finished 15th playing as an individual with a 77-74--151. Matt Dowling shot a 85-77--162, also playing as an individual.

HSU shot a 290 in the first round, but high winds in the second round ballooned the score to 314. The Cowboys beat Division III teams Southwestern, McMurry and Mary Hardin-Baylor and nine scholarship schools in its first outing of the year.

The Cowboys return to action next week at the Texas Lutheran Invitational.