Couch leads FMU to 14th-place finish

CHATTANOOGA, TN---Led by senior Christopher Couch's even-par 72, the Francis Marion University golf team moved up one position over the final 18 holes to place 14th at the Aldila Scenic City Invitational Golf Tournament.  The 54-hole event was held on the par 72 Council Fire Golf Club course.

Co-host Middle Tennessee State University rallied from a nine-stroke deficit to capture the team title with an 851 score.  Wichita State University finished second at 854, followed by the University of Southern Mississippi (862), Furman University (863), the University of Missouri (868), Charlotte (870), and 18th-ranked and co-host Chattanooga (871).  Chattanooga and Wichita State were tied for the lead heading into Tuesday's final round.

Francis Marion shot a final-round 312 score to finish at 914. 

Ciaran McKenna led Francis Marion with a 36th-place finish, following a 76 tally on the final day.  He ended the tournament with a 6-over 222 score.  Couch tied for 47th place at 224, following his 72 on Tuesday.  Kenneth Svanum tied for 71st (79-75-79=233), Matt Jackson placed 86th (78-80-85=241), and Sebastian Backlund finished 88th (81-74-89=244).

A trio of golfers shared medalist honors.  Middle Tennessee's Kent Bulle and Hunter Green were joined by the Shockers' Dustin Garza at six-under par 210. 

Francis Marion will play its final tournament of the fall season next week (Nov. 2-3) at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate in Sapphire, N.C., hosted by Western Carolina University.