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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS- March 16, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Strong Start Puts Baylor MGOLF in Third on Day One at the Hackler<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BU’s Heffernan paces the Bears with a 5-under 67 to share the overnight lead<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">For more information contact:
</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Matt Roberts, 254-227-2280,
</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:WM_Roberts@Baylor.edu"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue">WM_Roberts@Baylor.edu</span></i></a></span><b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> — Zach Heffernan
and Davis Ovard spearheaded a strong effort for Baylor on Sunday, landing them in third on day one of the Hackler Championship at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Ovard’s 4-under 68 was his lowest round since a 5-under 67 at the Kapolei Invitational last season, while Heffernan’s 67 was the second lowest
of his career, and his best since a 66 at the Fighting Illini Invitational in September. The senior from Boerne, Texas, shares the overnight lead with Auburn’s Brendan Valdes, while Ovard is a shot back, tied for third with Kent State’s Isaiah Ibit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BU’s 6-under 282 is just one shot back of second-place Duke and four-shots behind the first-round leader, Auburn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">THE RUNDOWN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Heffernan got off to a blistering start with four birdies on the front nine at Nos. 3, 4, 8 and 9 to turn with a 4-under 32. The senior reached
six-under with two more birdies at Nos. 15 and 16, before a bogey at No. 18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Ovard made an early bogey at No. 3 but bounced back with a birdie at No. 4 to turn at even. The sophomore caught fire on the second nine playing
his first seven holes at 5-under, thanks to birdies at Nos. 10, 13 and 16 to go with an eagle at No. 15, his second of the season. He made a bogey at the last hole to drop back to 4-under.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Jackson Hymer made the most of his first collegiate round in the lineup, shooting an even-par 72 to end Sunday in a tie for 24<sup>th</sup>. Bogeys
at Nos. 2, 6 and 7 dropped him to 3-over on the front nine, ahead of his first birdie of the day at No. 9. His birdie at the turn led to three more at Nos. 12, 13 and 16 before a final bogey at No. 17 dropped him into a tie for 25<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Jonas Appel shot a 3-over 75 on an up-and-down day, ending the round in a tie for 57<sup>th</sup>. Appel shot an even-par front nine with bogeys
at Nos. 2, 3 and 9, a birdie at No. 8 and an eagle at No. 4. Bogeys on three of his first five holes on the back nine dropped him back to 3-over, where he would stay with a birdie at No. 15 and a bogey at No. 18.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Drew Wrightson ended the day in a tie for 84<sup>th</sup> on the heels of a 7-over 79. Going out with a 6-over 42, Wrightson reeled it in with
a 1-over 37 on the homeward half. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">HIGHLIGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Baylor’s 282 on Sunday was its lowest single-round score this season<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Baylor joins Auburn as one of just two teams in the field to have two players
in the top-5<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BU had two players shoot 68 or better in the same round for the first time since
the second round of the Chapel Hill Regional last May<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">The Bears led the field in par-3 (3.00) and par-5 scoring average (4.40) on
Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">BU’s two eagles tied for the most in the field
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Heffernan’s 67 was the third-best round of his career and his best since a second-round
66 at the Fighting Illini in Sept.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Heffernan’s six birdies tied for the third-most in the field on Sunday<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Jonas Appel tied for the best par-5 scoring average in the field in round one<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">STAT OF THE DAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">-5 —
</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Zach Heffernan’s opening-round 67 was his career-best score on a par-72 course<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">WHAT’S NEXT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">The Bears will play alongside Auburn and Duke in the second round, beginning on Monday morning at 8:50 a.m. CT. A full list of tee times, live
stats and scores can be found at <a href="https://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=29377">
<span style="color:blue">Golfstat.com.</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">For more information on Baylor Men's Golf, follow @BaylorMGolf on X, Instagram and Facebook.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;layout-grid-mode:char">
<i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">—BaylorBears.com—</span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Matt Roberts | Director of Athletic Communications (MBB/MGOLF/ WGOLF) <br>
Department of Athletics | Baylor University<br>
C: 254-227-2280</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#212121;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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