LEMONT, Ill. – The Kentucky Wesleyan College men's golf team opened its season on Monday and Tuesday at the Flyer Intercollegiate. The 54-hole event was contested at historic Cog Hill Golf Club on the famous Dubsdread course. Wesleyan placed eighth overall in a field of 13 teams.
 
The Panthers started play on Monday facing a 36-holes. The team opened with a round of 320 as Alex Phillips led the way with a round of three-over par 75. Both Collins Dodson and Carter Dodson each fired rounds of eight over par 80.
 
In the afternoon round, the Panthers struggled to find more momentum. However, unphased by the complexity of the course setup, Carter Dodson fired a four-under round of 68 to vault up the leaderboard into eighth place out of 72 competitors. Dodson's round was the lowest single round total of the tournament.  The Panthers shot 319 in the second round and sat in eighth place heading the final day.
 
The final round saw a stronger wind and cooler temperatures to go along with an even more difficult course setup. The entire field saw their scores go up in the final round as the Panthers shot 331. Tyler Nickol, who opened with rounds of 85-82 on Monday, shot a final round of four over par 76. Nickol was three-over par heading in the back nine on Tuesday, but with birdies on 11, 13, and 14 he was back to even par. The lasting blemishes were the two double bogeys on 16 and 18.
 
Carter Dodson closed with a round of 84 to finish with a 54-hole total of 232, placing 18^th overall. Nickol moved quickly up the leaderboard with his final round, finishing 36^th with a 243 total.
 
Phillips placed 41^st after recording rounds of 75-85, and 86. Collins Dodson was 49^th overall. Lance Lewis carded rounds of 87-92, and 87 to finish 64^th. Playing as an individual was Will Cornett who posted rounds of 87 and 81 on Monday. Cornett closed with a final round of 85.
 
Valparaiso University took top team honors with a three-round total of 880. Garrett Willis from the Crusaders also took medalist honors with a one-under par total of 215.
 
The Panthers will have a couple weeks to prepare for the Midwest Regional hosted by Missouri Saint Louis on Oct. 12-13^th. The 54-hoel event will be contested at Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Missouri.