The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Missouri Southern Sports

Discussion

April 15, 2012

Lions, Gorillas ready to chase MIAA golf title

The Joplin Globe

— The MIAA men’s golf championship will be played today and Tuesday at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo.

Two rounds will be played today, starting at 7:40 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. The final round of the 54-hole event will be played Tuesday.

Central Missouri has won the three previous conference points tournaments, hosted last fall by Pittsburg State and Southwest Baptist and last week by Washburn. Washburn has placed second in all three events, and with points doubled for this tournament, the Ichabods have to finish at least two places ahead of Central Missouri to pass the Mules.

Pittsburg State is fourth with 12.5 points, and Missouri Southern is tied for seventh with eight points. The final standings will determine the Sonic Trophy Series point for the sport. The Lions hold a 6-4 lead in the 13-sport competition.

Justice Valdivia of Pittsburg State is second in the individual standings after placing fifth among league golfers in the Pittsburg State Invitational at Crestwood Country Club and third last week at Washburn.

Missouri Southern shot a season-low 300 in the first round and was second in the team standings last week at Washburn, but the Lions came back with a 319 in the closing round and dropped to eighth in the standings.

Ben Knight shot 77-77 and tied for 24th place in the Washburn Invitational. His stroke average of 76.7 for six rounds leads the Lions, and Adam Johnson is next at 79.6 for 19 rounds.

Ryan Russell led the Lions with 73-79—152 at Washburn. His first-round 73s and Knight’s first-round 73 last month in the Arkansas Tech Invitational are the Lions’ best rounds of the season The Lions' Jared Essary has two rounds of 74, and Patrick Holt and Johnson have one 74.

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