PADUCAH, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky claimed its 11th Ohio Valley Conference men’s golf championship Tuesday at the Country Club of Paducah. The Colonels led from start to finish and concluded play with a team total of 874, winning the championship by 19-shots over Murray State.

With its first conference title since 2006, EKU earns the OVC’s automatic bid to the NCAA championship.

Eastern’s Phil Hendrickson battled Murray State’s Nick Newcomb down to the final holes for the individual title but fell one shot short. Hendrickson concluded the 54-hole event with a one-over-par 217 and finished tied for second.

Eastern Kentucky Head Coach Pat Stephens was awarded Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors at the conclusion of the championship. It is the second coach of the year award for the man that has led the Colonel program for 11 seasons. Stephens led EKU to its first ever NCAA championship appearance in 2006.

Despite falling one shot short of the individual title, Hendrickson garnered the OVC Player of the Year award. He carries the lowest stroke average in the conference and now has six top-10 finishes this season.

Three Colonels placed in the top-five, four in the top-10 and all five turned in top-20 performances.

Colonels Jesse Massie and Ryan Britt entered the final round tied for the lead, but finished fourth and fifth respectively. Massie finished with a two-over 218. Britt posted a three-round total of 219 (+3). Justin Moore (227, +11) fired his best round of the championship and moved from a tie for 13th to 10th place. Trey Bowling (231, +15) tied for 18th.

Hendrickson, Massie and Britt were selected to the five-member all-tournament team.

Eastern Kentucky’s final round wasn’t its best, but it didn’t have to be. Entering the day with a 26th shot lead, the Colonels totaled a six-over-par 294, the third best of the day. Prior to the final round, EKU was the only team to shoot sub-300 rounds (288 and 292). On Tuesday, four squads were under 300.

Murray State (893) shaved seven shots off the Eastern lead with a final round one-under 287. Austin Peay (909) secured third place with a final round 296. Jacksonville State (918) tied MSU’s third-round best of 287 and finished fourth. Tennessee Tech (922) rounded out the top-five.

Eastern Kentucky’s 11 men’s golf championships are more than any current OVC member. Only former member Middle Tennessee (16) has more. Austin Peay, with six conference titles, is the closest to EKU’s total.

The 111th annual NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships begins with region action May 15-17. The regionals will be held in Chattanooga, Tenn., Columbus, Ohio and Bremerton, Wash. The NCAA will announce the championship field on May 5.

Hendrickson climbed from third place into contention for the individual title by shooting two-under on the first nine holes. After alternating a bogey and a birdie on the first two holes of the back nine, the senior remained two-under. He spent the final six holes battling MSU’s Newcomb for first place. After 15 complete, Hendrickson was one-under and had a one-shot lead. He bogeyed the 16th and shot par on the final two holes to finish the round with an even-par 72. Hendrickson had to wait to see how Newcomb would finish. The Racer sandwiched a pair of pars around a birdie on the 17th to finish the round with a two-under 70 and squeaked out the individual title by one shot.

Massie was cruising along with a share of the lead in hand until he reached the 13th hole. He had three birdies and only two bogeys on the first nine holes, making the turn at one-under. After a four on the par-three 12th moved him to even par for the round, Massie shot a seven on the par-four 13th hole. He pared three of the next four holes and stepped to the final tee at four-over for the round. However, on the par-five 18th, Massie found the bottom of the cup in just three strokes to conclude the final round with a two-over 74.

With a birdie and two bogey mixed among six pars on the front nine, Britt made the turn at one-over. After a bogey on number 10, the senior pared the next five holes and entered the final three at two-over. However, back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17 pushed him to four over. A birdie on the par-five 18th left Britt with a final round of 75, three-over-par.

Moore had an up and down first two rounds, but he put it all together for the final round. He pared six of the first nine holes and made the turn at three-over. The senior birdied the first three holes of the back nine to get back to par for the round. He had only one bogey on the final six holes and finished the round with a one-over 73.

Bowling’s final round was just up and down. After a par on the first hole, he bogeyed four straight and made the turn at four-over. He cut two shots off with birdies on the first two holes of the back nine, but he finished with a six on the par-three 12th hole to go five over. Then on the final five holes, he bogeyed two and birdied three to finish with a four-over 76.

The Country Club of Paducah is a 6,915-yard, par 72 course designed by Robert Trent Jones.

The OVC Men’s Championship tournament featured 10 teams – Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Murray State, Samford, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin.

1. EASTERN KENTUCKY 288-292-294--874
T2. Phil Hendrickson 71-74-72--217 +1
4. Jesse Massie 70-74-74--218 +2
5. Ryan Britt 73-71-75--219 +3
10. Justin Moore 74-80-73--227 +11
T18. Trey Bowling 82-73-76--231 +15