VIENNA, WV (October 21, 2011) – OVU freshman Ian Smith (Marietta, Ohio) closed with rounds of 73 and 70 to climb into fourth place overall at the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s golf tournament played October 16 – 18 at Glade Springs Resort near Beckley.

Smith’s three-round total of 227 was just one stroke short of landing him in a play-off for medalist in the event. Three other WVIAC golfers shot 226.

“I could not be prouder of Ian,” said Dennis Cox, OVU athletic director, who filled in as the team’s coach for the event. “He was clearly the best player in the field in those last two rounds.”

Both Smith and his teammates saw their tournament get off to a rough start in the opening round.

“We played later in the day when the wind was absolutely howling,” Cox added. “The scoring conditions were terrible.”

The team’s captain, junior Johann Volquardsen (Fleusburg, Germany) led the team in scoring in the first round with an 83. Smith shot 84.

“To think that Ian could come back after shooting twelve over in the opening round and nearly win the tournament is absolutely amazing,” Cox exclaimed.

The team trailed the field after the first two rounds of the 54-hole event, but the Fighting Scots closing round of 310 enabled them to climb over four other schools to finish ninth in the thirteen team tournament. Also representing the Fighting Scots were sophomore Jacob Hensler (Marietta, Ohio), junior Andrew Miller (Belpre, Ohio), and freshman Josh Haught (Byesville, Ohio).

The WVIAC Championship Tournament closed out the Fighting Scots fall season. The team will open its spring season next March.

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