INDIANAPOLIS - Findlay swept the first announcement of Great Midwest Athletic Conference Golf Athletes of the Week honors as many teams opened their 2019-20 campaigns on the links.
The Great Midwest Fall Preview hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan in Owensboro at The Pearl Club is next on everyone’s schedule.
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Luke Kelly
Findlay
Senior
Brownsburg, IN (Brownsburg HS)
Kelly started out his senior season strong with a solo runner-up finish at the Ohio Cup over the weekend as well as a top-six performance at the Don Underwood Invitational on Monday/Tuesday.
The senior is picking up right where he left off as he had eight top-10 finishes last year and a 72.93 scoring average, the fourth-best single season scoring average in conference history.
The all-conference first team selection helped the Oilers win both events by firing a (-5) 139 at the Ohio Cup and a (+4) 217 at the Don Underwood Invitational.
At the Ohio Cup over the weekend, the senior shot a (+1) 73 and found himself tied for 11th, four shots back going into the final round. On day two, Kelly shot a tournament best (-6) 66 and climbed up nine spots to finish solo second behind playing competitor and teammate Caleb Westfall.
At the Don Underwood Invitational, Kelly stayed consistent firing rounds of (+2) 73, (-1) 70 and (+3) 74, while finishing tied for sixth for the tournament.
Kelly and Findlay will look to win their third consecutive tournament as the Oilers travel to Owensboro, Ky., to take part in the Great Midwest Fall Preview starting on September 16.
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Meredith Wipper
Findlay
Senior
Hilton Head, SC (Hilton Head)
Wipper has earned the first athlete of the week award for women’s golf after her play at the UIndy Fall Invitational earlier this week.
Wipper, a senior from Hilton Head, S.C., had the second-best scoring average in the conference last season with a 76.2. At the UIndy Fall Invitational, she fired rounds of (-1) 71, (-2) 70 and (+5) 77 to finish tied in fourth for the tournament.
Wipper finished as the top scorer for the Oilers as they led going into the third and final round before ultimately finishing second as a team behind only host and fourth-ranked UIndy.
A Great Midwest All-Conference selection and the Great Midwest Tournament Medalist last year, Wipper will look to be a dominant force in the league once again for the Oilers during her senior year.
The Oilers are also currently ranked ninth in the nation by the WGCA in the first national poll of the 2019-20 season.
Findlay travels to the Pearl Club in Owensboro, Ky., for the Great Midwest Fall Preview starting on September 16.