By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

TMU freshman golfer Jack Dudeck shot the lowest competitive round of his life Tuesday, helping boost the Mustangs into a tie for ninth place in the 14-team U.C. Ferguson Classic in Oklahoma City.

It was Dudeck’s first college golf meet, but not nearly the first time he’d ever played competitive golf. So by the time his putt finally rolled in for a triple bogey on the second hole of his Mustang career, he didn’t have to create a game plan from scratch.

“Well, there are two things that can happen after this,” Dudeck recalled thinking. “Everything can completely go downhill, snowball effect. Or I can maintain my attitude, go out there and use it as a fresh start since there are still 16 holes to go.”

Dudeck chose the second option and shot the lowest competitive round of his life Tuesday at the U.C. Ferguson Classic in Oklahoma City. He reeled off six birdies on his way to a 2-under 69 in round one, helping boost the Mustangs into a tie for ninth place in the 14-team tournament.

Master’s shot a collective 588 through two of the tourney’s three rounds, with Dudeck pitching in a 74 for round two. Sophomore Joshua Kehl posted the second-best mark of the day for Master’s — a 3-over 145 (71, 74).

Freshman Eric Martin was third on the team with a 150 (76, 74).

The standout, though, was Dudeck, who sits in a tie for 17th place overall and who said he felt the nerves that accompany playing a sport for the first time at the collegiate level— in a different state, against teams from across the country, no less.

Apparently, he was up to the task of wrestling those butterflies into submission.

“Look, he rises to the occasion,” said coach Jacob Hicks. “He showed a lot of resilience.”

Hicks, who took the reigns at Master’s in August after competing for NCAA Division 1 East Carolina University, said he enjoyed his first crack at competition on the coaching side of things. He was pleased with the way a team that graduated two keys seniors competed in a tournament hosted by the defending national champion, Oklahoma City University.

“I felt like we did a good job representing who we are as children of God,” he said.

Hicks was also excited to have his dad, Mike, around the team.

Mike, a veteran PGA caddie who was on the bag for Payne Stewart when Stewart won the 1999 U.S. Open, walked the course with the Mustangs during a practice round Monday and offered tips related to navigating elevation and wind.

“Having somebody with that amount of experience helping us through the course is an advantage no other team had,” Dudeck said. “That gave us the confidence that we can do it. He said, ‘You guys play well, you know where to hit it, you all have great swings.’ It helped me play better knowing someone like that was supporting me.”

Robert Penalber shot a 151, while Karsten Briley recorded a 157 for the Mustangs, who will return to Lincoln Park Golf Course on Wednesday for round three.