North Central Extends Streak to Four Straight Conference Titles in Men’s Golf
2012 UMAC Men's Golf Championship Information
BREEZY POINT, MINN. – Owning a lead of just two strokes entering the third and final round of the 2012 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men’s golf championship, North Central University’s slim advantage disappeared on the front nine and the Rams had to come from behind on the final nine holes, holding off Bethany Lutheran College and the University of Minnesota-Morris to claim the program’s fourth consecutive UMAC men’s golf title.
North Central posted a team best and tournament best round of 314 on Saturday, finishing the three-day event with an overall score of 993. Bethany Lutheran, who was leading at the turn in the final round, finished the championship in second place with a team total of 999, just six strokes back after they recorded a team score of 318 in the final round. The University of Minnesota-Morris ended the three-day event in third place with a team score of 327 for the third round and 1106 total for the championship.
With their championship, North Central secures the UMAC’s automatic qualifier to participate in the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship next May. Head coach Spencer Hutton and his Rams’ will represent the UMAC in the NCAA Division III Championship for the third straight time. Northwestern College, Crown College and Martin Luther College finished in fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively in the conference championship event.
Bethany Lutheran College freshman standout Josh Willis earned medalist honors as he was the individual champion after recording a round of78 on Saturday to go along with rounds of 81 and 78 to finish with a three-day total of 238. North Central University was lead by senior Taylor Murphy and freshman Brady Ohman, who each carded rounds of 78 on championship day and finished in second and third place respectively overall with three-day totals of 240 and 244. Taylor Murphy has now collected all-conference honors three straight seasons.
Also owning that distinction is University of Minnesota-Morris golfer Collin Anderson, who tied for fourth place in the 2012 UMAC Championship with a total of 247. Anderson led the Cougars’ charge up the leader board and helped propel his team into contention for the conference crown. He shared fourth place overall with Reed Sorenson from Crown College, who boasted the best round of the day on Saturday with a three-over 75, also representing the best round of the entire championship.