Broce wins, Blazers take third at 2024 VU Spring Invitational

MONTGOMERY, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore Preston Broce (Indianapolis, Ind.) used the home course to his advantage over the weekend as he posted the lowest score at the two-day 2024 VU Spring Invitational at Country Oaks Golf Course in Montgomery.

Broce was off to another great start in the opening round Saturday, posting a three-over 75, which put him one shot back of the leader.

Broce then returned Sunday morning to shoot and even par 72 in the final round, giving him a tournament total of 147 and claiming his first collegiate tournament victory at Vincennes University.

The Trailblazers were well represented on the leaderboard, with freshman Andy Clark just missing out on a top-10 finish after posting an 81 Saturday and a 79 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 11th place with a tournament total of 160.

Freshman Alex Nealis (Olney, Ill.) also had a very consistent tournament, shooting an 81 in the opening round Saturday, which had him in a tie for eighth along with Clark, but finished with an 83 on Sunday to place in a tie for 15th.

Nealis tied his fellow Trailblazer teammate and sophomore Aaron Brink (Nashville, Ill.) for 15th overall, after Brink battled back after a first round 85 on Saturday to shoot a 79 on Sunday to move up five spots on the leaderboard.

Freshman Trejan Morrison (Ferdinand, Ind.) was the final VU team scorer for the tournament, shooting a pair of 84's in his two rounds, finishing 20th overall.

Freshmen Xavier Brown (Franklin, Ind.) and Jackson Stone (Vincennes, Ind.) competed over the weekend as individuals, with Brown posting an 89 on Saturday and an 84 on Sunday to finish 22nd overall.

Stone was the final VU finisher over the weekend, posting a 91 on Saturday before coming back Sunday to post an 88 to take 26th overall.

Vincennes as a team would take home a third-place finish overall, with a team score of 321 on Saturday and a 313 on Sunday for a tournament team total of 634.

The Trailblazers will now turn their sites towards postseason play as they begin preparations for the 2024 Region 24 Championships hosted at Weibring Golf Club in Bloomington Ill.

The two-day tournament is set to begin on Monday, April 29, with the final round scheduled for Tuesday, April 30.

The Trailblazers will look to qualify for the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Championships hosted at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, Mo., which will run from Tuesday, May 21 through Friday, May 24.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS

Danville Area – 312, 300 – 612

Mineral Area – 317, 308 – 625

VINCENNES – 321, 313 – 634

St. Mary of the Woods – 332, 308 – 640

Lincoln Trail – 353, 322 – 675

VINCENNES RESULTS

Preston Broce (1) – 75, 72 – 147

Andy Clark (T11) – 81, 79 – 160

Alex Nealis (T15) – 81, 83 – 164

Aaron Brink (T15) – 85, 79 – 164

Trejan Morrison (20) – 84, 84 – 168

Xavier Brown (22) – 89, 84 – 173

Jackson Stone (26) – 91, 88 - 179