SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Men's Golf starts strong, but finishes sixth among talented 12-team field at the Twin Oaks Intercollegiate, hosted by Missouri State University.
 
The Screaming Eagles shot a team score of 871 (287, 292, 292) over the two-day tournament of three rounds. Senior Jason Bannister was locked in on the first day, leading the Eagles with a fourth-place finish at even par, scoring a 213 (69, 69, 75). Senior Sam Vertanen climbed 29 spots in the final round to finish tied for 12^th, scoring a 217 (71, 77, 69).
 
The final order of finish included Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (+2), Missouri State (+11), University of Northern Iowa (+16), University of Nebraska-Omaha (+16), Western Illinois University (+18), USI (+19), Southern Utah University (+22), Bradley University (+23), University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+33), Lindenwood University (+34), Evangel University (+51), and Eastern Illinois University (+55).
 
Round 1
USI came prepared in the first round the Eagles have played at this tournament. The squad finished three over par at 287, tied for third place. The four top scores finished the round with eight birdies, 53 pars, and only 11 bogeys.
 
Bannister started the tournament shooting a 69, marking the sixth time the senior has broken 70 in the 2024-25 season. The round featured three birdies, 14 pars, and only one bogey.
 
Vertanen trailed right behind in 11^th, shooting an even round of 71. Junior Carter Goebel used a six-hole par streak to total a strong score of 73, while freshman Alex Peck tied his career best round with a 74.
 
Round 2
The afternoon round saw a small regression for the Eagles, falling to sixth place after shooting a 292 (+9). Bannister finished two rounds at second overall after shooting another 69, only five strokes outside of the leader. The senior had an eagle and a pair of birdies with only three bogeys, breaking 70 for the seventh time in 19 rounds this season.
 
Goebel turned in another 73, totaling five birdies, six pars, and seven bogey's. Peck delivered a massive round two as a freshman for the Eagles with a 73, breaking his career best. Vertanen rounded out the scoring with a 77.
 
Round 3
The Eagles bounced around the leaderboard on Tuesday's final round. USI concluded play with a 292 (+9), finishing behind Ohio Valley Conference foe, Western Illinois by one stroke.
 
Vertanen jumped 29 participants on Tuesday, securing the third Eagles score below par of the weekend with a 69. Sophomore Hunter Reynolds had his best round in the final round (74), collecting three birdies and an eagle in the process. Reynolds had two eagles in the tournament.
 
USI leaves Springfield, placing third among five competing conference schools which they will see at the end of the season. The Eagles will use this as fuel only two competitions into the spring season.

What's Next
The squad heads to Pawleys Island, South Carolina on Mar. 31-Apr.2. USI will compete in the Golfweek/AGT Intercollegiate.