Nealis finishes Top-10 at unique Rend Lake Fall Invitational

WHITTINGTON, Ill. – The Vincennes University golf team was short handed earlier this week when the Blazers headed to the Rend Lake Golf Course in Whittington, Ill. for the 2023 Rend Lake College Fall Invitational.

Entering this tournament without sophomore Aaron Brink (Nashville, Ill.) who injured his wrist last tournament, VU Hall of Fame Golf Coach Dennis Chattin looked to see who would be the one to step up in his place.

The tournament was a two-day, 54-hole tournament, consisting of two 27-hole days as Rend Lake Golf Course includes three nine-hole courses.

VU freshman Alex Nealis (Olney, Ill.) stepped up in a big way during the tournament, recording his first Top-10 finish of the season after shooting an eight over par 116 on Monday and an impressive five over 113 on Tuesday to finish 10th overall.

Sophomore Preston Broce (Indianapolis, Ind.) was the next VU scorer, shooting a six over 114 on Monday and capping off the tournament with a 122 on Tuesday, good for 15th place overall out of 45 golfers.

Freshman Xavier Brown (Franklin, Ind.) had the most improvement from one round to the other, taking six shots off of his first round 129 to finish Tuesday with a 123 and take 27th place overall.

Freshman Trejan Morrison (Ferdinand, Ind.) was close behind Brown, shooting a 126 on Monday and a 128 on Tuesday to finish 29th overall.

Freshman Jackson Stone (Vincennes, Ind.) rounds out the VU scorers for the tournament, shooting a 139 on Monday and a 138 on Tuesday to place 42nd overall.

Vincennes as a team had a very consistent tournament, combining to shoot a 485 on Monday and a 486 on Tuesday to finish fourth out of eight teams competing.

The Trailblazers will look to get back to full strength when they hit the links next as VU prepares for the Battle in the Ozarks hosted at Old Kinderhook Resort in Camdenton, Mo.

This tournament will begin on Monday, Oct. 30 and conclude on Tuesday, Oct. 31 and will be the 2023 Fall season finale for the VU golf team.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

Madison – 466, 460 – 926

Mineral Area – 459, 469 – 928

Rend Lake – 468, 465 – 933

VINCENNES – 485, 486 – 971

Lewis & Clark – 487, 484 – 971

Lincoln Trail – 493, 479 – 972

Southeastern Illinois – 529, 517 – 1046

Southwestern Illinois – 543, 542 – 1085

VINCENNES RESULTS

Alex Nealis (10) – 116, 113 – 229

Preston Broce (15) – 114, 122 – 236

Xavier Brown (27) – 129, 123 – 252

Trejan Morrison (29) – 126, 128 – 254

Jackson Stone (42) – 139, 138 – 277