Tigers Finish 2nd at NCAA Preview In Kentucky

The 11th-ranked Wittenberg men's golf team finished 2nd out of 18 teams at the NCAA Div. III Fall Preview
The 11th-ranked Wittenberg men's golf team finished 2nd out of 18 teams at the NCAA Div. III Fall Preview

Nicholasville, Kentucky- The 11th-ranked Wittenberg men's golf team had another strong showing in the state of Kentucky, this time finishing second out of 18 teams at the NCAA Div. III Preview at the par-72, 7,190-yard Keene Trace G.C., which will also serve as the site of the 2019 NCAA Div. III Championships this spring. The invite-only event featured several of the nation's top-ranked teams, including NCAC-foes Ohio Wesleyan and Kenyon.

Led by a pair of golfers finishing inside the top-15 in the individual standings, the Tigers posted a 54-hole team score of 890 (311-282-297), which trailed only No. 2 Emory's final team score of 866 (300-277-289). Following Wittenberg in the team standings was the duo of No.  5 Washington & Lee and No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan in a tie for third with 892 strokes each, while No. 3 Huntingdon rounded out the top-five in fifth with an 893 (304-290-299). 

Wittenberg junior Cameron Willis led the Tigers at the event by finishing as part of a three-way tie for third out of 90 total golfers with an even-par score of 216, which included a one-under 71 in the opening round. He followed that round up with a one-over 73 in the afternoon round on Monday and an even-par 72 in Tuesday's final round. Willis was recognized as member of the all-tournament team for his top-10 finish. 

Senior Colin Laszlo also had a strong showing at the national event, finishing as part of a three-way tie for 14th in the individual standings with a three-round score of 222, highlighted by a four-under par score of 68 in the second round on Monday afternoon. 

Rounding out the list of Tigers competing at the event were sophomore Christopher Dunne as part of a six-way tie for 35th with a 228 (82-71-75), junior Ryan Mallette as part of a four-way tie for 45th with a 230 (79-71-80) and finally senior Cooper Taylor as part of a three-way tie for 55th with a 232 (85-72-75). 

Washington & Lee's Brian Peccie won the individual medalist award at the event after carding a five-under par 211 (74-67-70).

The Tigers now return to action on the first week of October at the prestigious Gordin Collegiate Classic, played at the historic Columbus Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. The 54-hole event will be played on Monday-Tuesday, October 1-2.