Final Results (PDF)
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – With a target square on its back as the hunted, Findlay’s team depth was on display to impressively hold off the field in the final round of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championship on Tuesday.
The Oilers tamed the elements at Four Bridges Country Club for 54 holes as three teams entered the final round within 11 shots of the lead, including Trevecca, Hillsdale and Kentucky Wesleyan.
Findlay completed the seasonal sweep for both genders after winning the women’s golf tournament the weekend prior led by medalist Makenzie Torres.
The Oilers effectively ended the five-year streak of men’s and women’s conference titles won by Trevecca in both sports.
The Great Midwest Championship medalist was Trevecca freshman Blain Turner, who won by one stroke over first day co-leaders Dylan DeWitt (Findlay) and Liam Purslowe (Hillsdale). Turner had a three-round total of 220 and closed his first conference championship experience in the red numbers with a 70 (-2).
Turner was unfazed by the weather conditions after putting himself in position with back-to-back rounds of 75 on Monday. He started the day in a tie for seventh, but had a stretch of three made birdies in four holes making the turn to move to the top of the leaderboard.
Whether it was the junior DeWitt or fellow all-conference teammates Justin Roth and Cam Wardley or top-10 placewinner Cameron Bruce and also, not to forget top-10 conference scoring leader Luke Kelly (celebrating his birthday), different Oilers stepped up at varying times to protect the team lead.
Findlay (290-305-294--889) led by four shots over Trevecca and would eventually win by a seven-stroke margin.
Based on his position of finish, DeWitt made the all-conference team along with Roth and Wardley. They were joined by Trevecca junior Larken Whittemore, Turner and Purslowe, among the performance-based honorees.
Wardley had the second-best round of the day with an even-par 72.
The Oilers led all teams in the field with 44 birdies, made two eagles and also was the best in par-4 scoring. DeWitt was the overall leader with a dozen birdies over the three rounds while Wardley and Bruce finished No. 2 and 3 with 12 and 11, respectively.
Coaches will vote for an additional five spots on the all-conference team along with selecting the Great Midwest Player of the Year, Great Midwest Freshman of the Year and Great Midwest Coach of the Year.
Trevecca was the Great Midwest Championship runner-up with three all-conference team selections while Kentucky Wesleyan, guided by top-10 finishes from Christian Tooley and Chris Morgan, placed third. KWC started the day in fourth while Malone and Ohio Dominican each moved up two spots in the final team standings.