Results
COON RAPIDS, Minn.—Four strokes was all that separated Bethel University's men's golf team from the first-place team heading into the final day of the MIAC Championship and despite not being able to overcome the deficit, the Royals still had plenty to celebrate Monday. Bethel's 308 at the par-72, 6,877-yard Bunker Hills Golf Course helped the Royals take third place at the conference tournament with an overall score of 908—just two strokes out of second and 10 back of first. BU's third place finish is the best in program history and an improvement from its fourth place result in 2012.
Consistency was the word that defined Bethel's three-day total, as the five members of the Royals golf team finished one stroke apart overall.
Dillon John and
Davis Tollette each finished tied for 10th with a score of 229 and were honored to the MIAC All-Championship Team, while
Devon Johnson,
Alex Case, and
Bennett Smed carded a 230 and tied for 12th.
After a pair of 74's on Saturday and Sunday, Tollette gave up seven strokes Monday—firing an 81 on the final day of play. Tollette commented, "I struggled inside five feet, as it was the short puts that haunted me all day." Tollette missed a four-foot putt on 18 that allowed he and
Dillon John, who was already in for the day, to tie at 10th overall and both be on the All-Championship Team. John added a 76 to the Royals score, which should've been expected, as he finished the tournament with 18-hole scores of 77-76-76.
Devon Johnson had the lowest round of the day for Bethel, totaling 75 strokes to finish at +14 overall. Johnson, who had a 73 on the opening day, was able to quickly forget his 82 Sunday, and contribute nicely for the Royals.
Alex Case managed a 78 after a 77 Saturday and 75 Sunday, while
Bennett Smed finished Monday with a 79.
"I'm very proud of our results throughout the weekend," said head men's golf coach
Tony Weber. "Of course, when you're four strokes back after two days and five strokes back with nine holes to go, you want to believe you've got a chance. But our guys proved that they are capable of being an elite team within the conference."
The Royals will take a break until the spring season, when they will play their nontraditional season, which includes the final round of the Par Aide Cup—a match play tournament against Augsburg College.
