Fashioning the program's best aggregate team score since 1997, Morehead State men's golf concluded play at the Ohio Valley Golf Championships on Tuesday. The team also finished with the lowest score relative to par (+7) at the OVC Championships during head coach Matthew Martin's tenure.
"The team did a great job comparing to compete this week," said Martin. "Unfortunately our start to the tournament put us behind the pace early."
As a team, the Eagles fashioned scores of 295-285-291-871, finishing eighth at the event. Morehead State finished just three strokes shy of their fourth top-five finish of the season as they fired the lowest 54-hole total at the OVC Championships since firing an 862 in 1997. Since 1997, the Eagles have shot lower than 880 three times, 1997 (862), 1999 (875), and 2019 (871).
"We posted our lowest total in conference since the tournament was moved to the Shoals. However, the ideal scoring conditions created a margin that was too large to overcome," continued Martin.
Individually, Morehead State for the third consecutive year had a player shot even par throughout the course of the tournament. In fact, the Eagles had two such golfers as redshirt sophomore Ryan Gillum and sophomore Zac Viminitz tied for 16th at the event, both shooting even par for the event.
Viminitz who led the field in total Eagles with three-the rest of the field combined for just four-was within striking distance of the lead entering play Tuesday. Unfortunately, Viminitz slipped down the leaderboard as he marked down scores of 71-68-77-216. In addition to leading the field in Eagles, he would also pace the field in Par 5 scoring, combining to shoot eight-under on the courses four Par 5 offerings.
Gillum closed out a strong event, shooting 74-70-72-216 over the course of the event. Gillum led all Morehead State golfers throughout the tournament by paring 36 of the 54 holes he played, helping him to an even-par finish at the event's conclusion. He would also finish third-best at the event in Par 3 scoring, combining to shoot one-under on the event's four Par 3 holes.
Senior Nick Wilkins wrapped his final OVC Championships, leading the event in Par 3 scoring, shooting two-under on Par 3 offerings throughout the event. He would write in marks of 75-69-73-217 to finish tied for 22nd while also leading the Eagles in total birdies with 11.
Rounding out the order for Morehead State was sophomore Joe Muschong and the combination of junior Cooper Collins and senior Tyler Hillyer. Muschong fashioned totals of 75-78-69-222 to finish tied for 31st. In the final slot, Collins fired rounds of 82 and 81 (163) before passing things along to Hillyer for the final round where Hillyer shot an 81. The pair combined to finish tied for 53rd.
"I am very proud of our efforts this week and all season. That starts with our three seniors who were great leaders and teammates all year. While we have to lose them, I am excited about the team we will return next year and the opportunity to compete in the new match play format for the OVC," finished Martin.
At the conclusion of the three-day event, Jacksonville State walked away with the team title, concluding the event at 28-under par while Jacksonville State golfer Jesus Montenegro claimed the individual crown, finishing 12-under par for the event.