Joe Atkisson, a junior UMSL Tritons men's golfer, was named the GLVC Men's Golf Player of the Month for October. He's only the second men's golfer from UMSL to earn the distinction. (Photo by Danny Reise)
University of Missouri–St. Louis junior Joe Atkisson competed in three events in October, averaging 74.4 over eight rounds en route to being named the Great Lake Valley Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Month. Atkisson was selected by a vote from the league’s men’s golf coaches. He’s only the second ever UMSL Tritons men’s golfer to earn the distinction.
Atkisson, a Springfield, Mo., native majoring in international business at UMSL, competed against some of the best regional and national golfers over the course of October. He opened the month by tying for 44th place with a 229 (77-75-77) at the Golfweek Division II Fall Invitational, held Oct. 1-2, at the Sunriver Golf Club in Bend, Ore. Atkisson’s efforts helped the Tritons to a 13th-place finish at 925 (317-297-311).
He followed that performance as the top UMSL finisher at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational, hosted by the University of North Alabama (Florence) Oct. 15-16. Last year’s All-GLVC and All-Midwest Region selection tied for 21st place with a 221 (76-70-75). As a team, UMSL finished tied for 12th with a 910, carding rounds of 310, 301 and 299.
Atkisson concluded the month by registering the first medalist title of his career, winning the Midwest Regional at the Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Mo., Oct. 22-23. Atkisson, who entered the final 18 holes in a tie for 11th place after shooting a 75, carded a tournament-low 70 on the final 18 holes to finish with a 145, finishing one stroke better than University of Southern Indiana’s Logan Osborne and University of Central Oklahoma’s Eric Kline. His performance also helped UMSL to a runner-up finish. The Tritons, playing in their final tournament of the fall, shot a 598 (302-296) to finish four strokes behind winner Central Oklahoma in the 19-team event.
Prior to Atkisson, Ryan Penfield was named GLVC Player of the Month for March 2011.
