Final Results

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Missouri State got solid performances from seniors Brik Brauburger and Joey Johnson here Tuesday in the final round of the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship, but the Bears slipped to fourth place in the final team standings to conclude the team's season.

Southern Illinois fired a 289-293-295--877 to dethrone eight-time defending champion Wichita State by 10 strokes. The runner-up Shockers (887) extended their streak of top-two team finishes at the MVC meet to 20 straight seasons. Illinois State (889) was third, followed by MSU (898) and Bradley (903) to complete the upper-division squads. Evansville (906), Drake (907), UNI (925) and Loyola (938) rounded out the nine-team field.

After a solid team effort Monday, the Bears carded rounds of 298 and 291 on the par-70 course at Prairie Dunes Country Club to sit in a tie for third place after 36 holes. However on Tuesday, the Bears slipped to fourth place with a 309 on the final 18 holes, the seventh-best team score of the final round.

"It wasn't the round we were hoping for today," said MSU head coach Neal Stafford. "But I was proud of the way the seniors battled until the end."

Highlighting MSU's efforts was a seventh-place showing by Brauburger who rallied after an opening-round 78 to post an even-par 70 in the second round and a solid 73 Tuesday. It marked the third time this season Brauburger has been the Bears' top performer but first since suffering an injury at the conclusion of the fall season. His final tally of 221 was just 10 strokes behind eventual individual medalist Trent Wallace of Illinois State (73-69-69--211).

Wallace became the first ISU player to win the MVC individual men's golf title since 2005.

Also finishing strong for Missouri State was senior Joey Johnson who recorded a consistent 73-75-75--223 to tie for 11th place in the field of 45 competitors. He was one of just four players at the event to record an eagle, while his 36 pars was second among all tournament players. Johnson and Brauburger also tied for the third-best scoring average on par-four holes at the event (4.11).

Fellow MSU senior Mitch Mather (229) tied for 20th place, while the underclassmen were represented by freshmen Kory Franks (230), who was 24th, and Adam Fisher (236) who tied for 35th.

"I think our younger guys will take a lot from this season having contributed at a very high level as we continue to move the program forward," Stafford said. "Joey, Brik and Mitch have been the heart and soul of Bears golf for four years, and I can't thank them enough for their contributions. It was an honor to walk by their side."

#MSUBears

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

• 1 Southern Illinois 289-293-295--877 +37
• 2 Wichita State 288-299-300--887 +47
• 3 Illinois State 293-296-300--889 +49
• 4 Missouri State 298-291-309--898 +58
• 5 Bradley 299-300-304--903 +63
• 6 Evansville 300-301-305--906 +66
• 7 Drake 297-304-306--907 +67
• 8 Northern Iowa 302-307-316--925 +85
• 9 Loyola Chicago 309-300-329--938 +98

MVC ALL-CONFERENCE

• Trent Wallace, Illinois State
• Grant Bennett, Wichita State
• Jacob Bishop, Wichita State
• Brandon Carlson, Southern Illinois
• Peyton Wilhoit, Southern Illinois
• Rick VoyVodic, Evansville
• Drake Bushong, Bradley
• Lyle Burns, Bradley
• Dustin Atkinson, UNI
• Kyle Driscoll, UNI

Elite 18 Recipient - Alec Heinen, Wichita State

Newcomer of the Year - Trent Wallace, Illinois State

Golfer of the Year - Grant Bennett, Wichita State

Coach of the Year - Justin Fetcho, Southern Illinois