Perry claims victory at Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational

MUNCIE — It took four years and 21 rounds of golf for senior Kyle Perry to win his first collegiate golf tournament, but he bested the field Monday and Tuesday at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational at Delaware Country Club by four strokes.

“I played really well,” Perry said. “My short game was good, and (I) putted amazing for the three rounds, which kept me in it.”

After posting a two-over-par 72 in the opening round Monday, Perry bounced back with back-to-back under-par scores of 69 and 67 to shoot a 208 final score.

His 67 in the final round is his lowest score since coming to IU.

“He didn’t get off to the best start ... with a 72,” IU Assistant Coach Brian McCants said. “He played really well yesterday afternoon and into the morning (Tuesday), and then the third round speaks for itself with a 67.”

McCants said Perry has not had a lot of playing time and could have hung his head, but he had something to prove and competed hard at this event.

“It’s been a rough four years, so to finally do right feels good,” Perry said. “Hopefully they can see I can actually play in tournaments.”

Beyond Perry’s first-place performance, the other three Hoosiers, including freshman Max Kollin, finished in the top 25 of the individual-only event.

Kollin recorded a birdie on three of the first four holes of his college golf career.

One was the opening hole of the tournament.

“It felt really good to get a solid round off to start my college career,” Kollin said. “I feed off my nerves. It helps my putter. It felt good to get off to a good start with a birdie.”

In many college golf tournaments, there aren’t large galleries following the players between holes.

On Monday though, Kollin had someone shadowing him throughout the day — his dad.

Jimmy Kollin made the four-and-a-half hours drive south from his home in Farmington Hills, Mich., to see his son’s first collegiate tournament.

“It felt good to have him here to watch me again,” Kollin said. “I sort of wished he would have brought my dog.”

Unfortunately, due to work, his dad was not able to see the six-stroke improvement Kollin made in round three after a second round 79 took him out of the championship hunt.

His total score of 222 (+12) earned him a share of 19th place.

“It shows me I can compete,” Kollin said. “I wasted too many shots out there, and you can’t do that and try to be up there toward the top.”

Joining Perry and Kollin to make his 2012-13 golf season debut was senior John Beringer, whose 225 (+15) put him in 25th place, his best finish since a third-place showing at the adidas Hoosier Invitational during his freshman year.

The lone Hoosier to make the trip to Muncie with logged playing time this season was sophomore Nicholas Grubnich, who finished in 17th place with a 221-stroke count.

“I think the way coach Mayer has prepared these guys is really impressive,” McCants said. “We have had a very good fall as a team. It speaks to the competitive level of the team. I am really happy for Kyle, and this tournament affirms how he has played the last couple of weeks.”