Vela, Rein Lead St. Mary´s Men´s Golf to Memorial Title

Matt Vela fired a final round 70 to finish second overall at the Bruce Williams Memorial Invitational on Tuesday at The Dominion Country Club.

SAN ANTONIO--Matt Vela, Jeff Rein and Sam Jernigan all finished in the top ten individually, helping St. Mary's University to an 18-stroke victory at the Bruce Williams Memorial Invitational, played Tuesday at The Dominion Country Club.

Vela (Jr., San Antonio) finished as the runner-up in the tournament, firing a three-round total of 211 (71-70-70). He was the only player in the tournament to fire three straight under-par rounds. Donald Constable of the University of Texas took medalist honors, firing a 209 (68-73-68) to defeat Vela by two strokes.

Rein (Jr., San Antonio) struggled in the final round, but still finished seventh overall with a three-round total of 214 (70-69-75). Sam Jernigan (So., San Antonio) was ninth with a 218 (72-75-71). Tim Paiz (Fr., San Antonio) placed 22nd with a 223 (74-74-75), Jacob Torans (Fr., San Antonio) finished 63rd with a 236 (82-75-79) and James Grant (Sr., San Antonio) was 78th with a 243 (83-78-83).

The Rattlers easily outpaced the field in the team standings, defeating second place Dallas Baptist University by 18 strokes, 866 to 884. Abilene Christian University was third with an 887, while Northeastern State University and Newman University tied for fourth with identical 895s. The team title for St. Mary's was the first for the Rattlers on their home course since the 2003-2004 season.

The Rattlers will return to action on Monday, Oct. 5 when they travel to Goodyear, Ariz., for the Grand Canyon University Invitational.