Mercer University
UTA/Waterchase Invitational
Bee Swarm Forces Cancelation of UTA/Waterchase Invitational Final Round: Reimers Ties for Third Individually
9/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ARLINGTON, Texas – Tuesday's final round of the UTA/Waterchase Invitational has been canceled due to the threat a swarm of bees has posed to the participants. Results after Monday's second round are official, placing the Mercer men's golf team in a four-way tie for ninth place and giving Hans Reimers a tie for third place overall.
Mercer's 603 on Monday equaled the efforts from Texas-San Antonio, Texas Wesleyan and Southern Mississippi. Wichita State took the team championship 19-team field with a 36-hole total of 570.
Reimers used 142 strokes (74-68) in the opening two rounds to outpace 97 other golfers at the event. In just his eighth tournament since transferring to Mercer, Reimers collected his third top-10 finish.
James Beale (150) tied for 36th place while Alex Street (154) tied for 63rd place. Thomas Holmes (157) finished tied for 76th while John Wilson Gordon (161) tied for 87th overall.
A sizable hive of bees located behind the 18th green was disturbed when a golfer hit his ball into an area containing downed limbs. When the hive was disturbed, a large swarm of bees emerged and stung the golfer repeatedly.
The swarm of bees was so large that a beekeeper was called in to assess the situation. The professional determined the threat of bees returning to the hive could create a dangerous situation and the tournament was canceled.
The beekeeper estimated the hive population at approximately 75,000.
Mercer's next scheduled competition is the fifth annual Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship, scheduled for October 7-9 at the Brickyard at Riverside in Macon.
