The Missouri State men's golf team placed sixth Tuesday (Apr. 27) at the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship in Hutchinson, Kan., shooting 335-315-307--957 for 54 holes. Conditions moderated for the final round from the cold and windy day that sent scores soaring on Monday, so the Bears turned in a 307, but were unable to move up from their overnight position.
Pre-tournament favorite Wichita State ran away with the team title Tuesday after holding a one-shot edge over Southern Illinois entering the final round. The Shockers went 316-308-298--922 to win by 11 over SIU, which posted 314-311-308--933. Illinois State (944) was third, followed by Drake (949), Evansville (950), the Bears, Creighton (966), UNI (972) and Bradley (973).
Individually, MSU sophomore Will Hogan earned selection to the all-conference team based on his performance during the season and was voted the league's Newcomer of the Year by the coaches after transferring from Missouri. His newcomer honor gave MSU a sweep of that award on the men's and women's side for the past two seasons. Heather Smith captured the women's award last week, while Catherine Dolan and Jordan McLaurin swept the honor a year ago.
Senior Jay McBride was the top finisher at the tournament for the Bears, closing out his career with a tie for eighth place after shooting 82-76-75--233. Junior Jack Courington tied for 16th with 86-78-74--238, while Hogan shot 80-85-81--246 to tie for 30th. Sophomore Mark Hogan tied for 35th with 92-80-77--249 and senior Ryan Weinhaus finished with 87-81-82--250 and 37th place.
WSU claimed two of the top three spots in the medalist race as Shocker senior Dustin Garza won after firing 78-75-70--223, 13 over par, at the par 70, 6598-yard Prairie Dunes Country Club. Teammate Anders Engell and Drake's Brad Reierson finished second after carding 227 totals.
