TIFFIN, OH - It was a record setting weekend for
Ken Badylak and the Kentucky Wesleyan Men's Golf program. In the recorded history of the men's golf program, the Panthers as a team have broken the 290 mark for a single round just four times. That mark has now gone to seven, as the Panthers shot rounds of 285-283-288 to finish with a final score of 856 (-8), their lowest 54-hole score in school history. This mark also tied them for second place out of 14 teams, as the host Tiffin Dragons won the event with a score of 850 (-14).
Leading the way for the Panthers was
Tyler Nickol, who managed to set a record of his own. Nickol ran off rounds of 71-68-67 to finish with a 206 (-10), demolishing his own personal best and setting a 54-hole school record in the process. Sitting in third at -7 for much of the day, Nickol went eagle-birdie over his final two holes to move up and tie for second out of 88 competitors. Nickol led the entire field with three eagles over the course of the three rounds, shooting one each round. Also playing his best golf was junior
Jonah Graham. He went 67-72-74 to tie for fifth place with a 213 (-3). This would have been a school record had Nickol not been present at the event. Graham was seventh in par-4 scoring (4.00) over the course of three rounds, and was one of just 18 golfers to record an eagle, shooting a three on the par-5 eighth in his first round.
Coming in clutch late was
Ayden Gillilan. Gillilan birdied his final two holes to help Wesleyan jump up to tie Malone for second. Overall, he went 76-70-74 (220, +4) and tied for 26th in the event, and also set a new 54-hole personal best. Just behind Gillilan was junior
Evan Beery, who's consistancy showed throughout the entire event. Beery had the second most pars in the entire field, shooting 38 in the 54 holes he played. Beery shot rounds of 71-78-73 to tie for 32nd with a 222 (+6). Competing in his first collegiate tournament was freshman
Thomas Scott, who put on a good showing. Scott tied for 47th with a 227 (+11), including a +1 73 on his second round. Rounding out the field for the Panthers was
Harrison Sallee, who competed as an individual. Sallee finished in 83rd place with a score of 245 (+29).
As a team, the Panthers were second in scoring on Par 4s (4.07, +11) and Par 5s (4.75, -15). They finished third as a team in birdies and the combined total of Graham and Nickol's eagles allowed them to lead in that category.
The Panthers fall season continues next week when they travel to St. Albans, Missouri, to take part in the Midwest Regional hosted by UMSL. The tournament will take place at The Country Club of St. Albans and will be on Monday, Oct. 9 - Tuesday, Oct. 10.
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