MSSU Golf places fifth at MIAA Championships

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Spring Hill, Kan. - The Missouri Southern Men's Golf team moved up one spot on the final day of the MIAA Championships at Sycamore Ridge to finish the tournament in fifth place.

Junior Connor Neil paced the Lions on the final day with a 2-under 70 and moved up into a tie for third place with a 2-over 218 total for the three-day tournament. Neil started off the final round with back-to-back birdies on the opening holes before giving the two strokes back with bogeys on three and nine. Connor started the back nine with a bogey on ten before making birdies on thirteen, fifteen, and sixteen to go 2-under for the round.

Senior Taylor Lansford moved up four spots into a share of 12th with a 1-over 73. Lansford opened the day with a bogey on hole one and picked the stroke back up with a birdie on the second. Taylor went 1-over on the round on the next hole with another bogey and went 3-over with a double bogey on nine. Lansford started the back nine with three straight pars before a bogey on thirteen put him a 4-over for the round. He birdied four of the last five and narrowly missed a putt for eagle on the 18th that would have put him at even for the round. Lansford earned All-MIAA honors for his combined point total in the four MIAA designated points events.

Sophomore Tripper Jensen finished in a tie for 23rd with a final round of 6-over 78 and fellow sophomore Tristan Haltom finished with a share of 41st after a final round of 78. Senior Cameron Hamilton had one bad hole, the seventh, that knocked him down 18 spots into a tie for 45th with an 85.

Southern finished the team standings in fifth place and moved into fifth in the over MIAA standings with a three-day total of 902. Central Oklahoma took home the team title and in the process garnered the MIAA regular season championship. Washburn placed second in the tournament with an 887 followed by Lindenwood University in third at 890. Central Missouri finished in fourth with an 894. Following Southern in sixth was Southwest Baptist at 906 followed by Missouri Western at 908, Northeastern State at 915, Nebraska-Kearney at 924, Lincoln at 935, and Fort Hays State at 972.

Southern will await the NCAA D2 selection for the Central Regional to be held in Kearney, Nebraska at Awarii Dunes. The selections will be announced Friday April 28th at 4 p.m. CDT.

Team Standings (Final) **
1. Central Oklahoma (50.5)
2. Central Missouri (46)
3. Lindenwood (41)
4. Washburn (38.5)
5. Missouri Southern (32)
6. Northeastern State (29)
7. Nebraska-Kearney (27)
8. Missouri Western (22.5)
9. Southwest Baptist (21.5)
10. Lincoln (15)
11. Fort Hays State (7)

Men's Golf All-MIAA
Alex Springer, Central Missouri *Player of the Year
Carson Roberts, Washburn
Yente Van Doren, Lindenwood
Eli Armstrong, Central Oklahoma
Patrick McCarthy, Missouri Western *Freshman of the Year
Shayne Allan, Central Missouri
Tate Williamson, Northeastern State
Cody Troutman, Central Oklahoma
Alexander Hughes, Central Oklahoma
Taylor Lansford, Missouri Southern
Nick Pierce, Central Oklahoma
Kevin Kim, Missouri Western
Travis Simmons, Central Missouri
Cole Dillon, Central Missouri
Jay Cottam, Nebraska-Kearney