SE GOLFERS PLACE NINTH IN OVC TOURNAMENT

PARIS, Tenn. -- For Southeast Missouri State University's golf team, the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament that concluded Tuesday was no doubt an event to forget.

The Indians improved their score a bit from Monday's opening round but still wound up ninth out of 10 squads. Last year, Southeast placed second and finished just one stroke out of first.

Southeast wound up with a 36-hole total of 652, shooting 322 Tuesday after a 330 Monday. The tournament was shortened from its scheduled 54 holes because rain wiped out 18 of 36 holes Monday.

Middle Tennessee rallied from a one-stroke deficit after the opening round to capture the title and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Raiders finished at 607 after a 296 Tuesday. First-round leader Eastern Kentucky wound up second at 617 after Tuesday's 307.

Austin Peay was third at 619, followed by Tennessee Tech (620), Tennessee-Martin (626), Murray State (633), Morehead State (642), Eastern Illinois (648), Southeast and Tennessee State (653).

Middle Tennessee's Brett Alexander captured his third straight OVC individual title with a 1-over-par 145. He fired a 1-under 71 Tuesday.

Southeast's top finisher was Bryan Johnson, who tied for 24th at 161 (81-80). Other Indian scores were John Litzelfelner 165 (81-84), Woody Hill 165 (82-83), David Fulton 166 (86-80) and Jason Owen 169 (90-79).

Owen did make the 2000 All-OVC team that was voted on by league coaches and based on play during the regular season.