MOBILE, Alabama – Jack Burke turned in a career performance, leading the Texas State men's golf team to a fourth-place finish at the Hal Williams Collegiate at the Magnolia Grove Golf Club. The senior posted an impressive three rounds in the 60s, highlighted by a season-low opening round 65, to secure runner-up honors.
Burke (65-68-69—202) previously tied for second competing as an individual his freshman season, making this week's performance his best competing as part of the Bobcat lineup across his four years. He and
Sakke Siltala lead the team with all 12 of their rounds counting toward the TXST total in 2024-25 and the duo also has a team-best three top 25 finishes apiece. Burke ended the event with 15 birdies, the second highest for an individual, while carding only four bogeys through three rounds.
"Jack gave himself a chance to win the individual title and came up just short," head coach
Shane Howell said. "He's ready for a big time semester of golf and I can't wait to watch him compete in his final semester of Texas State golf."
The Bobcats (278-281-277—836) equaled their best placement from the fall campaign with the fourth-place finish and totaled season lows for strokes, 836, and total score, -16. No. 15 SMU won the event at 25-under, while Kent State (-24) and Kansas State (-20) rounded out the top three.
"Great first event of the spring for the guys," Howell added. "They played really solid team golf from start to finish. We have some things to clean up before the next event but I'm excited with the competitive spirit of our group."
Freshman
Jaxon Donaldson (69-70-69—208) turned in the best performance of his young career, firing three rounds under par to place tied for 15th at -5 and secure his second top 20 finish.
The biggest mover for the Bobcats on day two was junior
Sakke Siltala (72-74-68—214), who went 3-under 68 to climb 20 spots on the individual leaderboard to finish tied for 36th.
Ben Loveard and
Brannan Cox closed out the Texas State lineup with Loveard tying for 44th at +2 and Cox finishing tied for 69th at +8 in his first tournament as part of the Bobcats' five.
In all, TXST posted seven of 15 rounds in the 60s and eight under par, both a team-best after four events in 2024-25.
The Bobcats return to action Feb. 24-26 for the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate hosted by Arkansas State in Henderson, Nevada.
