The first half of the 2023-24 men’s golf season came to a disappointing end for the Missouri Tigers. Competing in arguably their most competitive tournament of the season, Missouri shot 27-over par (295-297-299) to place 8th out of 10 teams in The Williams Cup at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC earlier this week. 

The Tigers opened the tournament strong, ending Monday’s two rounds in 4th place behind North Carolina, Auburn, and Arizona State, three teams who were ranked in the top six of Golfweek’s Collegiate Rankings. The early charge was led by sophomore Alfons Bondesson. Bondesson ended Monday 2-under par, putting him in a tie for 3rd place. The third round did not treat him as kindly, as he shot 6-over par to drop him to 16th place at 4-over (69-73-78). 

Like Bondesson, Missouri as a whole struggled in the third round. The Tigers shot 11-over and were surpassed by four schools, including SEC rival Florida, to end the tournament in 8th place. 

For the third time this season, the individual leader for Missouri was senior Jack Lundin. Lundin carded a 218 (74-71-73), going 2-over par, which placed him in a tie for 11th place overall. The senior was also responsible for Missouri’s highlight of the tournament, when he drained a hole-in-one on the second hole of his first round. 

Fifth year Charlie Crockett was the only other Tiger to finish in the top 30. After finishing Monday in 36th place shooting 9-over par, Crockett scored even on Tuesday to raise his standing seven  spots and finish in a tie for 29th place with a score of 225 (78-75-72). 

Rounding out Missouri’s lineup was junior Dagbjartur Sigurbrandsson and sophomore Virgilio Paz. Sigurbrandsson carded a 231 (77-78-76), going 15-over par and placing himself in a tie for 46th. Paz finished the tournament with the highest score of his collegiate career, shooting a 236 (75-78-83). This put Paz 20-over par, alone in 56th place. 
Missouri will now begin a nearly four month-long hiatus before beginning the second half of their season on January 29th and 30th at the National Invitational Tournament in Tucson, AZ.