OWENSBORO, KY. - The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's golf team hosted the primer event of the week in the Midwest Region at The Pearl Club over the weekend. The Panthers, after a solid start, posted a 15th place finish while Christian Tooley posted a top-ten finish out of 100 players.
Wesleyan opened the event on Sunday morning with a round of three over par, 291. Tooley started the event with a round of five under 67 while Carter Dodson posted a even par total of 72. The Panthers sat right in the middle of a stacked field after day one, tied for 9th with Harding and Bemidji State.
Central Missouri, ranked 19th this week, took the overnight lead with a round of 11 under par 277. Day two saw more red ink over the leaderboard as the firm and fast fairways coupled with soft greens yielded lower scores.
The Panthers struggled from the onset on Monday, however, Alex Phillips improved his day one total by four shots and finished with a final round of three over par 75. Bogeys on 13 and 14 in the final round looked to derail Tooley, but a birdie on 16 allowed him to come in under par for the third time in four tournament rounds. Tooley carded a final round of 70 to finish in a tie for sixth. His two-day total of seven under par, 137, is a career low.
Collins Dodson posted rounds of 75 and 77 to place 80th while Sam Bland finished with a two day total of 156 (77-79). Wesleyan closed with a round of 301 falling to 15th place.
The Mules continued their torrid pace through the 6,925 yard layout by shooting a final round of 13 under, 275. They were able to hold off a final charge from Maryville University. The Saints posted an 18 under round of 270 to finish in second place by six shots.
Joe MacNeil form Linedenwood shot an opening round 65 to sit a shot back of the lead on day one. He was one shot back entering the final round and posted another sizzling round, this time a 68 to card a 36-hole total of 133, 11 under par. MacNeil took medalist honors by one shot over Nick Westrich from Central Missouri.
The Panthers will travel to Eureka, Missouri in a week to play in the Midwest Regional at Fox Run. The 54-hole event will begin on Monday with 36-holes and conclude on Tuesday.
