The host Pioneers of Malone, who finished last season ranked No. 8 in the final NAIA poll, won the eight-team event with a two-day total of 575 to easily outdistance runner-up Madonna (Mich.) University (591) and third-place Notre Dame College (599). Huntington (Ind.) University (604), the University of Northwestern (614), Mount Union College (619), Walsh University (636), and MVNU (645) rounded out the field.

Individually, Malone’s Ben Smith claimed medalist honors as he defeated teammate Tyler Light, who played as an individual, on the third playoff hole. Smith and Light both finished with six-under-par scores of 138.

Freshman Matt Crouch led the Cougars with a two-day total of 156, while junior Jay Ruffner fired a 160. Freshman Preston Robinette (166), sophomore Adam Nichols (168), and sophomore Mitch Justice (173) rounded out the scoring for MVNU, while junior Cory Palmer finished with a 168 as an at-large individual.

“The classic statement of ‘a bad day on the course is better than a good day in class’ was challenged during our two-day tournament in Alliance,” said MVNU coach Mark Stiverson. “While we played better the second day, our scores are much higher than the talent we have. You are going to have good days and bad days on the course. All players in all sports experience that situation. What you hope for is that if there are extremes that there is a good mix of both good and bad that will offset each other.”

“Matt played well overall and he played extremely well the second day,” Stiverson added. “Others suffered in meeting their average and goals. This is not the time to beat up one’s self, though. We must take positives from what happened and move on to the next phase.”

The Cougars will close out the fall season on October 5 at the Cedarville Invitational that will take place at the Beavercreek Golf Course. This will either be a 27-hole or 36-hole one-day tournament.