Men's Golf Takes First, Women Fourth In Jeff Roope Invitational

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Over the course of two October days in Central Ohio, the intercollegiate golf teams assembled at historic Springfield Country Club for the Jeff Roope Invitational were treated to unusually idyllic weather conditions. The host Tigers emerged victorious in the men's competition with a two-round total of seven-over-par 578, four strokes clear of John Carroll, while Centre won the women's tournament with a 13-over-par total of 604, six strokes ahead of Denison.

For Wittenberg's men, who are currently ranked 14th nationally, the key was a tremendous opening round in which the Tigers shot 283 to take a seven-stroke lead. John Carroll beat the Tigers by three strokes in the second round, but it wasn't enough to overtake the host team on their favorite course. Otterbein was third with a score of 600, followed by Wisconsin-Stout at 603, Webster and Wittenberg's B team at 605, Randolph-Macon at 608, Ohio Wesleyan at 614, Juniata at 631, Hanover at 641, and Muskingum at 672.

On the women's side, Centre and Denison are both ranked in the top-25 nationally, and both lived up to their billing with strong performances on the course designed by famed architect Donald Ross. Ashland, ranked nationally in NCAA Division II, sent its B team to the tournament and placed third at 638, followed by Wittenberg at 654. The rest of the standings included Hanover (662), Wooster (670), Otterbein (672), Denison B (677), Muskingum (736), Wittenberg B (754), and Ohio Wesleyan (785).

Individually, Wittenberg's men were led by Jake Yarbrough (Dublin, OH /Jerome), who turned in rounds of 69 and 73 to finish with a total of one-over-par 142. That was good for a three-way tie for third place, three strokes behind Brock Rumpke of Wright State in second place, and six strokes off the pace set by Ali Berker of Wright State, who blistered the course to the tune of a 6-under-par total of 136. Rumpke and Berker were playing as individuals in the competition.

Also scoring for Wittenberg were Ryan Miller (Dublin, OH / Jerome) in sixth place with a 144, Mark Sulek (Delaware, OH / Hayes) in eighth place with a 146, Josh Wright (Wadsworth, OH / Akron Hoban) in 11th place with a 147, and Caleb Domitrovich (McDonald, OH / McDonald) in 16th place with a 151.

For Wittenberg's women, Hillary Humbaugh (Haubstadt, IN / Gibson Southern) and Halley McNair (Cincinnati, OH / Bishop Fenwick) posted matching two-round scores of 161 to finish in a tie for 14th place at 161. They were joined in the Tiger lineup by Izzy Selby (Cincinnati, OH / Seton) in 23rd place with a 166, Anna Sinclair (Brownsburg, IN / Brownsburg) in 28th place with a 169, and Addie Yarbrough (Dublin, OH / Jerome) in 32nd place with a 172.