SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – University of the Incarnate Word senior Austin Jordan (Rainbow/Glen Rose HS) broke through on Tuesday for his first win of the season in a four-hole playoff at the Rattler Invitational hosted by St. Mary's at The Republic Golf Course. (Results)

Jordan has had a fantastic season this year, but had yet to completely break through.  He finished second or one stroke out of first place in six of the seven tournaments he had played entering this week.  He fired a 6-under par 65 in the second round to move into first place heading into the final round on Tuesday.

Jordan was even par on the front nine in the final round and then bogeyed Hole 12.  He completed the round by making par on the final six holes and had two birdies lip out on 17 and 18 that would have won the tournament in regulation.

Jordan's opponent in the playoff was Missouri Southern's Ryan Buerk.  Buerk was one shot behind Jordan by three shots during the round, but he birdied three of his final eight holes, including his next to last hole to move into a tie at 4-under par for the tournament. 

In the playoff, Jordan had to get up and down on the first hole to save par and then had birdie opportunities on the next two holes, but could not convert.  Buerk made a brilliant par-saving putt on the third playoff hole to force the fourth.  On the fourth playoff hole, the duo played Hole 18 for the third time on the day.  Jordan striped his drive long and down the middle while Buerk was in the rough to the left.  Buerk's approach shot ended up in a greenside bunker and Jordan put his wedge 8-feet from the cup.  Jordan rolled the putt in for a birdie to win the tournament.  It was the third victory of his career.

The Cardinals entered the final round tied for the team lead on the par-71, 7007-yard course.  They played well in the final round shooting a 5-over par 289, but St. Edward's was just a little better with a 288 to win the team title by one stroke.  In addition to Jordan's 72, Ryan Bibby (Havelock, NC/Incarnate Word Academy) fired a 1-under par 70 to finish in 15^th place overall and Remy Huston (Sinton/Sinton HS) shot a 72 and finished in a tie for 13^th place.

Midwestern State tied with the Cardinals for second place with 867 strokes.  Dallas Baptist finished in fourth with 886 strokes and they were followed by Texas A&M-Commerce (888), Our Lady of the Lake (889), West Texas A&M (897), St. Mary's (901), Oklahoma Chrisitan (905), Missouri Southern (906), Texas A&M-International (944), Northwestern Oklahoma State (969) and Southwest Baptist (970).
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