Beasley shoots low round and Liggett finishes top-five as Men’s Golf places fifth at AAC Championship/NAIA Direct Qualifier

SENECA, S.C. (April 25, 2023) – The Milligan University men's golf team saw Jonathan Liggett notch a top-five individual finish and Ty Beasley shoot the tournament-low round as the Buffs notched a fifth-place finish at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Spring Championship/NAIA Direct Qualifier on Monday and Tuesday at Cross Creek Plantation.

After an opening round 332, the Buffs sat in ninth place in the 13-team standings. Milligan bounced back with a 307 in round two to vault to fifth in the team standings with the third-best score of the round. The Buffs closed the 54-hole tournament with a 311 on Tuesday to finish at 950 strokes, eight shots back of fourth-place Bryan. Truett McConnell took the tournament title with 917 strokes.

Liggett paced the Buffs and collected all-tournament honors with a three-round score of 228. He posted rounds of 75 and 74 on Monday and sat one-over through 12 holes on Tuesday. A 79 on Tuesday secured a fifth-place individual finish in the 64-man field. He was honored as an All-AAC Second Team selection after the event.

Despite rounds of 83 and 84 to open the tournament, Beasley saved his best for last. He posted four-straight birdies from holes three-through six as he fired a 34 on the front nine. Three birdies across the back nine helped him finish with a minus-three 69, the top individual round of the event. Beasley shot up the leaderboard on Tuesday, jumping 20 spots to finish tied for 13th.

Samuel Prater bounced back from an 85 to open the tournament with rounds of 74 and 79 in over the final 36 holes. He notched five birdies in seven holes on the back nine in his second round and finished tied for 18th overall.

Brandon Hammond's 78 in round two bolstered the Buffs' tournament-best 18-hole score. Hammond tied for 36th.

Milligan's finish marks the third top-five finish at the NAIA Direct Qualifier in the last four seasons its been held.