Staff Report

 

IRVING, Texas — Following a second place finish at the Cobra-PUMA Invitational, Nathan Kerns has been named Conference USA Golfer of the Week.

This is his second such honor of the season. He previously was named Golfer of the Week after his second place finish in the Marshall Invitational to begin to year. The senior now has three career awards.

Kerns had three under-par rounds which boosted him into a tie for the runner spot at the Cobra-PUMA Invitational in Ft. Myers, Fla. at Miromar Lakes Golf Course.

“This award is awesome. Anytime you can get an honor in your conference is pretty sweet,” Kerns said.

The Thundering Herd senior had a one stroke lead going into the third and final round of play but Edward Figueroa shot an 8-under-par round of 64 to take the title. Ryan Fricker of Bethune-Cookman was awarded the runner-up spot as he had a lower third round score (67).

Kerns had a first round score of 68 then followed it up with a second round of 67, the lowest round out of the entire tournament field through two rounds. 67 tied his lowest career round, which he set earlier in the season at the Marshall Invitational.

“I’m very excited for Nathan,” head coach Matt Grobe said. “I think he has put together two really good tournaments with one at our home course, which is expected from a senior, and then to go on the road to Florida and play on a different grass then we are used to here is pretty special.”

The Ironton native now leads the Marshall men’s golf team in lowest average (70), least amount of strokes (630), and lowest round (67).

“I’ve played really well so far. This second place finish is a little different than the first one. Figueroa (in the final round) really went out and beat me. I played really solid for three rounds and I felt really good about this one.”