Eric Chun, who has switched from this putter to a long version this year, took second in his first tournament as a senior.Eric Chun, who has switched from this putter to a long version this year, took second in his first tournament as a senior.

Eric Chun Finishes Second, Wildcats Third at Marshall Invitational

Sept. 13, 2011

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- Northwestern fell one spot Tuesday in the final round of the Marshall Invitational at Guyan Golf and Country Club, placing third overall as a team while senior Eric Chun (Ansung City, South Korea/International Christian School) earned runner-up status in the individual standings.

Northwestern got off to a super quick start Tuesday morning when a trio of Wildcats birdied their first holes. Some sloppy short-game play, however, led to a 2-over par team score as NU made the turn.

Northwestern made a mini-charge to begin the back side, getting birdies at Nos. 10 and 12 from freshman Matthew Negri (El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont), a birdie at 10 from sophomore Jack Perry (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara) and a birdie at 11 from senior Sam Chien (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel). In the end, NU fought back to an even-par 284 as a team to wind up in third place at 11-under 841 (278-279-284).

Northwestern finished two shots behind second-place Eastern Kentucky and seven shots in back of the winning Ohio State squad. The Buckeyes blazed to a 10-under 274 Tuesday to jump into the top spot.

As the Wildcats chased a team title, Chun was after medalist honors in his first competition as a senior. Chun opened with a birdie on his first hole before stiffing a hybrid into the wind on the long par-3 seventh hole for birdie to get to 2-under. He then made par on every hole through 14 until a bogey at No. 15 put him one shot back of the clubhouse lead at 8-under par for the tournament.

He entered the 18th needing a birdie to tie for the win, but hit a bad hook off the tee before blocking out his second shot. He saved par with a great eight-foot putt to card a 1-under 70 on the round and an 8-under 205 (67-68-70) for the tournament, good for a tie for second place.

"Eric put himself in position down the stretch and that's always the goal," head coach Pat Goss said.

After two even-par rounds Monday, Perry turned in a 1-under 70 in the final round Tuesday to earn a top-20 finish. His 1-under 212 (71-71-70) placed him in a tie for exactly 20th individually.

The remainder of the Wildcat squad finished the tournament at 2-over 215 to tie for 29th place overall. Negri's birdie streak to start his back nine made up for missing an early green long and not getting his pitch back on the putting surface. He completed the final round in even-par 71 to place him 29th individually at 2-over 215 (69-75-71) for the tournament. Chien would finish his day at 2-over 73, matching him with Negri's 54-hole total of 2-over 215 (71-71-73).

Freshman Bennett Lavin (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) also completed a 2-over 215 (72-69-74) after finishing Tuesday at 3-over par.

Northwestern has a short layoff before returning to action Sept. 16-18 at the Olympia Fields CC/Fighting Illini Invitational in Olympia Fields, Ill. The 15-team field at the tourney features 10 teams ranked in the Golf World/Nike Golf Preseason Coaches Poll and three more receiving votes.

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