Championship Central
INDIANAPOLIS – For sixth time in program history, but the first time in the Medal/Match Play-era, Bellarmine University has earned a Great Lakes Valley Conference title in the sport of men’s golf. The Knights closed out the season with a win over Drury University Tuesday afternoon at the GLVC Championships, contested at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Missouri.
The fourth-seeded Knights completed the effort by defeating the back-to-back defending champions in No. 1 University of Missouri-St. Louis 3-2 during the Medal/Match Play Semifinals before advancing to its battle with Drury, where they picked up the league’s first Match Play Finals sweep at 5-0 to claim the trophy.
Bellarmine turned in impressive team performances en route to its first GLVC Championship since 2004. The Knights, who like Drury competed without a senior on their roster, played their best golf of the weekend when it counted the most. Had the traditional play-five, count-four format been in effect, Bellarmine would have posted a 1-over-par 289 in the morning round, followed by a 2-over 290 against the Panthers in the afternoon.
GLVC medalist James Inman continued his tear in the postseason as he completed his eighth round at the GLVC Championship at a running total of 8-under. The sophomore finished runner-up at the 2016 event at 4-under, claimed the 2017 crown with a 54-hole score of 3-under, and went 1-under today with rounds of 71 in the semifinal and 72 in the championship match.
Freshman Corey Teaford shined in both of his matches Tuesday. Having completed his 54 holes of stroke play with rounds of 74-76-81, Teaford fired a 1-over 73 in the semifinal round and finished with a career-best effort of 2-under 70.
Spencer Hackert was the only other Knight to win both of his matches on Tuesday. He fired a 72 during the semifinals and responded with a 77 in the afternoon round.
Drury also advanced to the finals for the first time in school history, having defeated the second-seeded University of Indianapolis 3-2 in the morning semifinal round.
Cam Bourque led the Panthers on the day with a semifinal-winning even-par 72, followed by a 1-over 73 that was three strokes shy of Bellarmine’s Teaford in match one.
Next up for GLVC teams is the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Nebraska. The 54-hole event tees off May 8.
2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship Medal/Match Play Schedule/Results
Rivercut Golf Course | Springfield, Mo.
Tuesday, April 25
Medal/Match Play Semifinals
No. 1 Missouri-St. Louis vs. No. 4 Bellarmine, Hole 1
Match 1 (8:00 a.m.) – Corey Teaford, BU (73) def. Chris Ferris, UMSL (82) | BU, 1-0
Match 2 (8:09 a.m.) – Matt Barry, UMSL (72) def. DJ Vogt, BU (73) | Tied, 1-1
Match 3 (8:18 a.m.) – Spencer Hackert, BU (72) def. Jose Acevedo, UMSL (74) | BU leads 2-1
Match 4 (8:27 a.m.) – Markus Lindberg, UMSL (77) def. Ryan Harris, BU (81) | Tied, 2-2
Match 5 (8:36 a.m.) – James Inman, BU (71) def. Julien de Poyen, UMSL (73) | BU wins 3-2
No. 2 Indianapolis vs. No. 3 Drury, Hole 10
Match 1 (8:00 a.m.) – Mitchell Kiser, DU (76) def. Christopher Heck, UINDY (86) | DU leads 1-0
Match 2 (8:09 a.m.) – Spencer Klimek, UINDY (78) vs. Nick Walz, DU (79) | Tied, 1-1
Match 3 (8:18 a.m.) – Cam Bourque, DU (72) def. Erik Edwards, UINDY (83) | DU leads 2-1
Match 4 (8:27 a.m.) – Josh Fronabarger, DU (77) def. Evan Stoker, UINDY (80) | DU wins 3-1
Match 5 (8:36 a.m.) – Graham McAcree, UINDY (75) def. Craig Stefureak, DU (76) | DU wins 3-2
Medal/Match Play Championship
No. 3 Drury vs. No. 4 Bellarmine, Hole 1
Match 1 (1:36 p.m.) – Corey Teaford, BU (70) def. Cam Bourque, DU (73) | BU leads 1-0
Match 2 (1:45 p.m.) – DJ Vogt, BU (71) def. Nick Walz, DU (83) | BU leads 2-0
Match 3 (1:54 p.m.) – Spencer Hackert, BU (77) def. Mitchell Kiser, DU (85) | BU wins 3-0
Match 4 (2:03 p.m.) – Ryan Harris, BU (77) def. Josh Fronabarger, DU (80) | BU wins 4-0
Match 5 (2:12 p.m.) – James Inman, BU (72) def. Craig Stefureak, DU (75) | BU wins 5-0