The host Yellow Jackets won the six-team event as they finished with a team total of 479 to edge out runner-up Oakland City (Ind.) University (482) by three strokes. The University of Northwestern Ohio was third at 484, while Shawnee State University and MVNU both finished at 501 with the Bears earning the fourth spot due to the fifth man’s scoring being used for both teams. Urbana University rounded out the tournament field at 528.

Steve Nevius from Wittenberg earned individual medalist honors as he fired a 115 to nip Cedarville’s Brigham Michaud (116) by one stroke. Freshman Matt Crouch led the Cougars with a 121, while freshman Preston Robinette was one stroke back at 122. Junior Cory Palmer (129), freshman Brad Meinert (131), and junior Jay Ruffner (132) rounded out the scoring for MVNU. Junior Jim Nichols also posted a 131 playing as an at-large individual.

“This tournament was one of those tournaments that if we played it at the beginning of the fall season we probably would have had a good chance to bring home some hardware,” said MVNU coach Mark Stiverson. “That’s not a boastful statement, but rather a deduction based on our averages before the tournament.”

“Sometimes you get to a place of needing a break, though,” Stiverson added. “Several of the guys played and practiced all summer long. In addition to their summer play, some of them have been hitting it hard nearly daily since late August. While in many respects that is great, there could be a point where you need a small break. I think we hit that wall earlier than normal. The winter break will give us the respite we need and I believe we will perform much better in the spring. I also have to remember that we are a fairly young team. We did show that we can shoot good rounds, so it is not a question of whether we can do it or not. We just have to get more consistent.”