Tuesday, April 28, 2015
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For the eighth-straight year, Wichita State has won the Missouri Valley Conference men's golf championship. The Shockers did it in near-record fashion, outdistancing second-place UNI and Southern Illinois by 37 strokes. The championship was played on the 7,036-yard, par-72 layout at The Club at Porto Cima in Sunrise Beach, Mo.
FINAL RECAP -- Wichita State fired a third-round 291 on Tuesday to claim its 20th all-time MVC men's golf title, more than any school in league history. The Shockers' team score of 287-286-291=864 was 37 strokes better than UNI (901) and Southern Illinois (901). UNI and SIU became the first pair of teams to tie for second in the league championship since 1996 and only the second co-runners-up since 1969. UNI matched its best finish since 2001 (second) and Southern Illinois matched its best finish since 2010 (second). The Salukis' 297 on Tuesday was second only to Wichita State's score. The Shockers' 37-stroke victory was the largest margin in the league in a 54-hole tournament since 1962 when North Texas claimed a 55-stroke win that season.
The 2015 all-conference team was announced following Tuesday's round, and four Shockers comprised the 10-player team. Louis Cohen Boyer was voted as Golfer of the Year for the second-straight year, marking just the second player in MVC history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. He became just the sixth golfer in MVC men's golf history to earn all-conference honors all four years in his career. Wichita State's Grier Jones was tabbed Coach of the Year for the eighth-straight time and 13th in his career.
All-Conference
Grant Bennett, Wichita State
Jacob Bishop, Wichita State
Conrad Walcher, Wichita State
Louis Cohen Boyer, Wichita State
Kyle Driscoll, UNI
Wade Thompson, Southern Illinois
Joey Johnson, Missouri State
Garret Buckley, Loyola
Tyler Gentilella, Illinois State
Jordan Fahel, Illinois State
Elite 18 Award Winner: Wade Thompson, Southern Illinois (3.688 Accounting)
Newcomer of the Year: Jacob Bishop, Wichita State
Golfer of the Year: Louis Cohen Boyer, Wichita State
Coach of the Year: Grier Jones, Wichita State
MONDAY RECAP -- Wichita State holds a 21-stroke lead after 36 holes at the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference men's golf championship, played today at the 7,036-yard, par-72 layout at The Club at Porto Cima in Sunrise Beach, Mo. The final 18 holes will be played Tuesday. The Shockers were led Monday by Louis Cohen Boyer, who fired a 67-69=136. Boyer holds a five-stroke lead over teammate Conrad Walcher, who sits in second place individually after a 67-74=141. The Shockers shot rounds of 287-286=573 and lead second-place UNI by 21 strokes. The Panthers (298-296=594) were led by Kyle Driscoll, who is in fourth place individually after firing a two-round 144. Loyola's Garret Buckley is in third overall with a 142.
In the team standings, Evansville is right on the heels of UNI, trailing the Panthers by 3 strokes, with a two-round 597. Bradley (602) and Southern Illinois (604) are right behind. The Salukis fired the second-best second round on Monday (295) to climb from eighth place to fifth.
Teams will play 18 holes on Tuesday, beginning with tee times (split tees, with 3 teams going off No. 10 and 6 teams starting on No. 1) at 8 am. The Shockers will be aiming for a league-record 20th team title. WSU has won the past seven team championships and only Oklahoma State (9 in a row from 1947-55) has a longer consecutive streak.
COURSE INFORMATION -- The Golf Club at Porto Cima is a Jack Nicklaus designed facility that opened in 2000. Over the last 14 years Porto Cima has hosted several Missouri Golf Association Championships, the annual Missouri Intercollegiate and the 2011 Men’s MVC Championship. Recently Golf Digest recognized The Club at Porto Cima as the one of the best private golf courses in America.
MVC Golf Information
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Team Information