(RMC Athletics release)
SILVIS, Ill. – The Rocky Mountain College men’s golf team finished 14th at the 2018 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship that concluded on Friday at TPC Deere Run.
The Battlin’ Bears closed out the week by shooting 297 (+9) during today’s final round. They ended the tournament with 1,177 strokes – 41-over par – and closed with three rounds under 300 after posting a 302 in the opening round.
For the week, Rocky finished tied for fifth with 56 birdies and they tied for third with two eagles. They played the par-5 holes at even par while shooting 20-over on the par-3 holes and 54-over on the par-4 holes.
Colton Murphy climbed up the leaderboard on Friday by shooting 2-under 69 for his third straight round at even par of better. The round moved him up 14 positions to 14th in the final standings with a final score of 2-over 286.
Rocky started the round on hole No. 10 and Murphy shot 5-under on the back after posting three straight birdies on holes 16-18. He added birdies on No. 4 and No. 8 to secure a top-15 finish. Murphy led the Battlin’ Bears with 16 birdies and shooting 1-over on the par-4 holes during the tournament.
By placing in the top-15, Murphy was named to the All-Tournament Team and earned an automatic invite to the 2019 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz. His finish is the highest by a Rocky player at the tournament in school history.
Reece Nilsen shot a final round 72 (+1) to finish the tournament in a tie for 58th at 13-over 297. Nilsen had birdies on No. 11 and No. 12 and he made an eagle on No. 17. That was the only eagle of the week on the hole and tied Nilsen with two others for the tournament lead with two eagles during the event.
Michael Tait ended the week in a tie for 63rd at 299 (+15) after shooting a final round 78. His final round included a birdie on No. 11 to give him 13 birdies for the week.
Mitchell Thiessen placed tied for 77th with 303 strokes (+19). He posted a round of 79 on Friday with birdies on holes 2 and 14.
HoTae Kim shot his best round of the week in the final round with a 74. The round featured one birdie and 13 pars to help him finish in a tie for 88th at 309 (+25).
Third-round leader Oklahoma City pulled away to win the team championship with a 9-under 1,127. The Stars shot 5-under on Friday to finish 15 strokes ahead of Dalton State.
Dalton State’s S.M. Lee cruised to the individual title by shooting 12-under 272 and scoring 2-under in the final round. Jack Dyer of Keiser University finished in second at 280 (-4).
