SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers put three players in the top 10 individually and held off a stern challenge from Adrian College to capture first place in the Wittenberg Fall Invitational. Wittenberg finished with a two-day total of 593, one stroke better than Adrian, which rallied from a 12-stroke deficit on Day 2 to post a 594, two strokes better than third-place Otterbein.
The Tigers shot a three-over-par 287 on a cool, rainy Day 1, thanks in large part to a pair of one-under 70s posted by juniors Ben Smith (North Bend, Ohio/Elder) and Ricky Boerner (Hilliard, Ohio/Watterson). On Day 2, however, Wittenberg shot 306, opening the door for Adrian, which carded a 295, easily the best in the 15-team field. Sunday's round was played in unseasonably low temperatures and high winds.
Just two Wittenberg players improved their scores on Day 2, and both were keys to the team victory. The first was sophomore Craig Osterbrock (Wilmington, Ohio/Wilmington), who moved up to third place in the final individual standings thanks to a Day 2 score of 73, on the heels of a 74 in the opening round. The second was sophomore Bradley Shepherd (Dublin, Ohio/Watterson), who carded a 76 in the second round to finish 40th with a two-day total of 156.
Smith wound up sixth with a two-day total of 149, followed by Boerner in 10th place with a 150 and junior Jordan Millice (Cable, Ohio/Triad) in 15th with a 151.
The Tigers, ranked sixth in the latest GolfStat rankings based on head-to-head competition, will conclude the 2010 fall season at the DePauw Small College Classic.