Morehead State's men's golf team finished the 2021 Fall season on the highest note it could. The Eagles won a scorecard playoff with Northern Illinois Tuesday to claim the top team honor at the Xavier Invitational at the Maketewah Country Club.
The Eagles, who were the team leaders after two rounds Monday, jockeyed back and forth in first with NIU before Eagle fifth-year Joe Muschong and NIU's Ben Sluzas both parred the par-three 18th hole to force a tie at 864. Based on each team's fifth score of the day (which typically does not count for a team total), MSU claimed the title by one stroke as fifth-year Zac Viminitz had a 78 compared to NIU's Zach Place with a 79.
The trophy marked the first title for the Eagles since winning the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Tennessee in March on a two-hole playoff. It also assured MSU of a stroke play team title in three consecutive seasons. Morehead State had a two-day total of 287-292-285 -- 864.
Muschong finished in a tie for second place with a 68-75-71 -- 214, also securing his third top-10 and second top-5 finish in the five fall events.
Freshman Nolan Piazza scored his best finish of his young career, tied for 13th. He shook off a rough first round to fashion a 79-71-68 -- 218. Fifth-year Ryan Gillum also scored a top-20 (19) effort with a 77-73-71 -- 220.
Sophomore Cameron Travis was next in line with a 71-75-75 -- 221 for 24th place, and Viminitz was at 72-73-78 -- 223.
The Eagles will now be off for the winter before returning to action Feb. 21-22 in Mira Loma, Calif.
