The Eastern men’s golf team finished in sixth place at the two-day Branson Creek Invitational at Branson Creek Golf Course in Hollister, Mo., with a combined team score of 596 (+29).

The Panthers were in 10th place after the first round of play (301, +17), but Eastern cut five strokes during the second round (296) securing a sixth place finish out of 12 teams.

“We did alright,” senior Matt Imburgia said. “We put up a solid second-day number that helped us jump up the leader board. We had a couple of guys clicking at all cylinders, and if we can get that going that would be great.”

Host Missouri State won the event with a combined two-day team score of 583. Eastern finished a stroke behind Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State but finished one stroke ahead of Tennessee-Martin.

Senior Mike Imburgia led the Panthers shooting a 147 (+5) that was good enough for a tie for 10th place in the tournament.

Mike Imburgia said he was happy with his performance, but he said it could have been better.

“As a team we played really well,” Mike Imburgia said. “We haven’t been able to practice that much, and I think that lack of practice hurt us a lot, especially the first day. I think the second day we had a round under our belt and were able to play much better.”

Mike Imburgia followed his first day score of 72 (+1) with a second-round 75 to finish in the top 10.

Sophomore Matt Bird cut six strokes from his first round play to finish with a 148 that was good enough for a tie of 13th in the tournament and second best for the Panthers.

“I hit the ball well both days,” Bird said. “The first day I was just not hitting any birdies, and on the second day I made a few putts.”

Bird said he was happy with his second round of the tournament and felt good about the Panthers’ performance.

His 13th place finish was Bird’s best so far in the spring season.

The Panther’s third place finisher was Matt Imburgia who finished tied for 22nd with a two-round score of 153.

Matt Imburgia was able to cut three strokes off his first-day score in the final round of play.

“I struggled with my putting the first day,” Matt Imburgia said. “Once I started playing the second round I felt solid.

Thunderstorms on Monday caused the golfers to play only 18-holes instead of 36. Mike Imburgia said the course was wet both days.

“Yesterday the course was very wet and we were supposed to play 36 holes, but they cancelled the last 18,” Mike Imburgia said. “Today the course was sopping wet. There was standing water in the fairways. The greens were not too bad, but everywhere else there was water.”

Matt Imburgia said the course played different from last year but was still manageable.

Bird said the course affected play.

“If it were dry, the course would have definitely played shorter,” Bird said. “Even balls hit with a driver weren’t traveling long, and the ball had no roll. It would hit the fairway and stop.”

Eastern will play next at the Illinois Invitational at Stone Creek Golf Course in Urbana starting April 5.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.