DEARBORN, Mich.–The UIndy men's golf team wrapped up a great season Wednesday at the NCAA DII Championships at TPC of Michigan in Dearborn, placing ninth among the nation's best programs. Last year's individual national champion
Keegan Bronnenberg (-2) very nearly captured his second individual national title before falling in a sudden-death playoff to earn runner-up honors.
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Battling rainy and chilly conditions on the third and final day of stroke play, Bronnenberg held off a pair of contenders in his own group in Arkansas Tech's Holden Hamilton and Nick Westrich of Central Missouri. At the turn, all three players in that final group were within a stroke of each other.
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KB kept the pressure on with a birdie on the par-four 10th, while Hamilton doubled 11 to fall back. Bronnenberg finished at -2 to ultimately outlast Westrich by one stroke. However, waiting in the clubhouse at two-under was a familiar face in UMSL's Joel Sylven.
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The two GLVC rivals headed to the first tee box for a sudden-death playoff. Sylven went on to birdie the hole while Bronnenberg parred, clinching the individual medal for the UMSL senior.
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Elsewhere, fifth-year senior
Oliver Mast was among the leaders all week. The three-time GLVC Player of the Year eventually earned a top-10 finish in his final collegiate tournament, tying for ninth at +4.
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Cam Carroll highlighted his week with an even-par 72 in the opening round before settling at +14 overall to share 51st.
CJ Jones finished at +22 and
Jacob Nickell at +30.
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UIndy was one of just 20 DII teams to qualify for the year's biggest tournament. Its also season included a runner-up performance at the
GLVC Championships and a fourth-place showing at the
NCAA DII Midwest/Central Regional before earning its second straight
NCAA DII Championships appearance.
TUESDAY
The Hounds continued their strong performance, building a one-stroke lead through two rounds. With two Greyhounds tied atop the individual leaderboard, UIndy is looking to stay in the top eight after tomorrow's final round of stroke play to advance to the medal/match play quarterfinals on Thursday.
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Competing at TPC of Michigan in Dearborn, Mich., UIndy is currently one stroke up on second-place Arkansas Tech and six ahead of the current eighth-place team. Play continues tomorrow, with tee times posted here when available.
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Oliver Mast and
Keegan Bronnenberg continue to pace the Hounds individually. Bronnenberg in particular caught fire on the back nine Tuesday, racking up five birdies in one seven-hole stretch. The reigning NCAA individual champion turned in a three-under 69 to finish the day at -2 overall, vaulting 11 spots to move into a tie for first.
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Meanwhile, Mast carded a 73 on Tuesday to also sit at -2 for the tournament. Both Greyhounds are tied with Arkansas Tech's Holden Hamilton for first place. The individual medal will be awarded following Wednesday's third and final round of stroke play.
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Other Greyhound scores include
Cam Carroll at +8, followed closely by
CJ Jones at +9 and
Jacob Nickell at +23.
MONDAY
Led by All-America candidate
Oliver Mast (-3), the UIndy carded an even-par 288 to top the nation's best teams in the season's biggest tournament. Mast fired a three-under 69 with three other Greyhounds finishing at +2 or better.
UIndy is currently two strokes up on second-place Barry and seven up on third-place Colorado State-Pueblo.
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Mast compiled five birdies on day one to finish at -3 and top the entire 108-man field, including a trio of golfers at -2. Meanwhile,
Cam Carroll (E),
Keegan Bronnenberg (+1) and
CJ Jones (+2) finished within two strokes of one another, settling at T-9, T-13 and T-24, respectively.
Jacob Nickell rounded out the team scoring with at +10.
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