LAGRANGE, Ga. — The Methodist men's golf team secured its 31st conference championship, and second consecutive title, by shooting a final-round 288 on Saturday afternoon at Highland Country Club.
The Monarchs entered the day trailing Greensboro by two strokes but quickly made up the deficit and pulled away, winning by seven strokes in the end. MU shot 287-296-288—871, to outpace the Pride at 286-295-297—878. Huntingdon (292-297-294—883) was third, LaGrange (293-300-291—884) took fourth and N.C. Wesleyan (294-306-300—900) claimed fifth place. By virtue of the win, the Monarchs gained the USA South's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in May.
Individually, Logan Lanier of LaGrange claimed medalist honors, finishing at -7 for the event. He shot 70-70-69—209 for the week. Stephen Shephard of Huntingdon was second at -4 (70-74-68—212) and was the only other player to break par for the championships.
Four Monarchs placed in the Top 10, led by Craig Decato, who finished in third place at 216 (70-75-71). On Saturday, Decato went out in 34 (-2) and added a birdie on No. 11 and a birdie on No. 15 to get to -4 on the day before carding three straight bogeys to close out his round.
Mason Stutler finished in seventh place, one shot back of Decato at 217 (71-72-74). Two birdies in his final three holes on the front put him at -1 at the turn. He had a pair of birdies on the back, but played his final nine holes in +3.
Larkin Gross was eighth at 219 (73-73-73). On Saturday, he opened with a 34 (-2) on the front and birdied the 10th to get to -3. He stood at -3 through 13 holes before a bumpy finish, four bogeys in five holes, gave him his third 73 in as many days.
Davis Jensen turned in the Monarchs' best round of the day. He shot 70 (-2) and finished in ninth place (73-78-70—221). At even par through five holes, Jensen reeled off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to get to -4 through 10 holes before carding a pari of bogeys on the back nine.
Finally, Jared Chinn finished in a tie for 13th place after a 75 (+3) on Saturday. He played his opening nine holes in even par, but manage just one birdie on the back against a pair of bogeys and a double.
The 31st championship in program history marks the 23rd in the career of Head Coach Steve Conley, and MU will be making its 37th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships. Having played in the tournament every year since 1981.
—
