The SXU men’s golf team finished in second place out of the eleven-team field last Wednesday at the Olivet Nazarene University Spring Invite at Balmoral Golf Course in Crete, Ill. The Cougars were led by junior Kirby Brown, who shot an impressive 73, one stroke over par on the 6,648-yard course.
The combined team score was a solid 310, only nine strokes behind the eventual winning team, the University of St. Francis. Four other teams, including Trinity Christian College and host Olivet Nazarene University, were within 10 strokes of the Cougars’ second-place finish.
While the scores are about the team first and foremost, Brown also finished tied for second in the field in terms of individual play.
Junior James Kerr, a native of Donegal, Ireland, and junior Brendan Ryan joined Brown in breaking 80. Kerr got into the clubhouse with a strong 77 and Ryan was just a stroke behind with a final score of 78. The team score was rounded out by sophomore Kyle Bahnick, who finished with a round of 82.
The Cougars will be searching to produce more birdie and par opportunities when they arrive in LaPorte, Ind., for the Purdue-North Central Spring Shootout at Briar Leaf Golf Club on Monday, April 15 at 10 a.m.
This will be the final event of the season for the Saint Xavier University men’s golf team as they look to conclude an impressive first season under head coach, Mike Mandakas. This team has showed some real signs of improvement throughout this season which has led to a great showing during the 2012-13 campaign in their inaugural season.
Congratulations to the SXU men’s golf team as they will look to continue their success in the final event of this season and into next season as they will look to build on their great first year.
Good luck to the men’s golf team in their final event of the season!
Tim Carroll
Sports Correspondent