The Missouri Southern golf team finished seventh place at the Texoma Championship at the Chickasaw Pointe Golf Club.

The Lions shot a team total of 605 on the first day compared to the leader, Rodgers State University, at 582. The second round score of 298 is the second lowest team round of the fall season for Southern.

“Chickasaw Pointe was just as tough of a test that we have had this year,” said senior Ryan Buerk. “The course has firm and fast greens, which is always a test for any golfer.”

Freshman Chas Goines led Southern on day one as he carded a two round total of 144.

Buerk made the biggest move of anyone in the field in the second round as he improved 26 places to tie for ninth with a total of 146.

Buerk’s 69 tied the leader from Southwestern Oklahoma, Manuel Arzuaga, for the lowest round of the day.

“It was nice to shoot that 69 on a tougher course,” Buerk said. “I was shooting five under par through 14 holes, but after a couple bad swings down the last four holes, I realized my goal of five or six under par.”

Sophomore Taylor Lansford carded a 157 and junior Ethan Hutcheson is only three strokes behind him with a 160 day one total.

The team complied a three-round total of 910 and finished six strokes behind East Central for sixth place.

Buerk said, “We need to improve on minimizing damage in our rounds. We can have a few good rounds out of the four, but can’t seem to round out four good scores. We need a good finish at our last tourney in St. Joe.”

Leading the way for Southern was Goines.

In his debut for the Lions, Goines finished tied for 14th, while Buerk finished tied for 18th and had the second lowest round of the tournament with a second round 69.

“I think the team needs to work on a little course management,” said senior Skyler Arbuckle. “Every stroke counts, and the big numbers are costly. Other than that I think the team had a good showing, and we look like we are improving each week.”

The Lions will take a week off before they travel to St. Joseph for their next tournament, the Central Region Invite hosted by Missouri Western.