Final Results
WEST LAFAYETTE, OHIO – Otterbein University men’s golf captured Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships title Sunday afternoon, posting a four-day total of 1,213 to hold off the University of Mount Union by 11 strokes.
The tournament win is Otterbein’s third in the last four years, and tenth since 2000. As a result, the Cardinals earn the conference’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Championships May 15-18 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.
Capital University finished in third place with a team score of 1,226, while Ohio Northern University was right behind at 1,227.
Otterbein entered the final round holding a 13-stroke advantage, and posted a final-day team total of 306 en route to the victory.
“It was just huge to see our guys lead wire to wire and conclude it like they did,” said head coach Matt Cooperrider. “We knew that if we remained steady and made no big numbers that we’d be there at the end. It was tough early on in the final round, but our guys have been battle tested all year and were really able to finish strong.”
Graduate student Ben Adams, who finished tied for third at last year’s event, defeated Ohio Northern’s Colin Burns in a playoff to capture medalist honors. Both players turned in a four-day score of 299 before Adams birdied the first playoff hole to capture the individual crown.
“Being able to come back and play with the guys has been really awesome,” Adams said shortly afterwards. “Every one of us just wanted to go out finish the 72 holes the best that we could, and hopefully it would be enough to win as a team. I just happened to play well enough to win individually as well.”
“It’s amazing to see Ben go out on top with it being his last go around and all,” added Cooperrider. “He tweaked his wrist on Saturday and had to ice it last night, but he gutted it out today and barely missed a shot all round.”
Sophomore Matt Mosca was impressive in turning in a fifth-place finish, shooting a four-day mark of 303 en route to All-OAC honors.
The senior duo of Taylor Ford and Brock Neighbors also battled to register top-10 finishes, shooting 306 and 307 to finish tied for sixth and 10th-place, respectively. Both earned all-conference status as well.
Otterbein’s lineup was rounded out by junior Taylor Harle, who came in tied for 23rd-place after shooting a total score of 315.
The Cardinals will now be looking to build off their recent NCAA Championship finishes, having come in 13th in each of the last two trips in 2009 and 2010.
