Men's Golf wins OAC Spring Invitational in 1-hole playoff with Otterbein
By Tim Glon
NEW ALBANY — The Ohio Northern men's golf team won the 2015 Ohio Athletic Conference Spring Invitational tournament in a 1-hole playoff with Otterbein Sunday-Monday at the Little Turtle Golf Club.
The Polar Bears (36-16 overall) and Cardinals finished the 36-hole event tied with 305-310—615 scores.
Each 5-man team then played one playoff hole and ONU won with three pars and two bogeys compared to two pars and three bogeys by OU.
Individually, sophomore Blaine Ricketts also was in a playoff, falling in the first extra hole to Otterbein's David Monaco for Medalist honors. The two golfers finished the regulation 36 holes with 4-over par 148s.
Freshman Zach Goodchild tied for sixth out of 54 golfers with a 153, freshman Tim Monroe tied for 10th with a 156 and senior Colin Burns tied for 15th with a 158.
Playing as individuals, senior Ryan Wirtz and sophomore Tyler Davis tied for third with 152s.
Adding in the 36-hole scores of the ONU Fall Invitational, Otterbein edged ONU 1226-1239 to claim the OAC Regular Season title as determined by the 72-hole total score from both events.
Northern will be the No. 2 seed at the OAC Championships on April 24-26 at River Greens Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ohio.
Individual details will be added when they become available.
The Polar Bears are slated to return to action Saturday and Sunday at the Defiance Invitational.
OAC Spring Invitational Team Scores
t1. Ohio Northern 305-310—615*, t1. Otterbein 305-310—615*, 3. Capital 317-317—634, 4. John Carroll 324-318—642, 5. Mount Union 322-327—649, 6. Muskingum 325-327—652, 7. Baldwin Wallace 319-340—659, 8. Heidelberg 345-351—696.
Top 5 Individual Results
t1. David Monaco (Ott) 72-76—148**, t1. Blaine Ricketts (ONU) 73-75—148**, t3. Ryan Wirtz (ONU) 75-77—152, t3. Tyler Davis (ONU) 80-72—152, t3. Parker McComb (Cap) 76-76—152.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
t1. Blaine Ricketts 73-75—148, t6. Zach Goodchild 79-74—153, t10. Tim Monroe 77-79—156, t15. Colin Burns 76-82—158, 41. Rick Deichert 82-93—175.
Other Ohio Northern Individual Results
t3. Ryan Wirtz 75-77—152, t3. Tyler Davis 80-72—152.
OAC Regular Season Standings
1. Otterbein 1226, 2. Ohio Northern 1239, 3. Mount Union 1261, 4. John Carroll 1265, 5. Capital 1268, 6. Muskingum 1285, 7. Baldwin Wallace 1304, 8. Heidelberg 1366.
*-Won team title in 1-hole playoff
**-Won Medalist honors in 1-hole playoff