Trojans Claim Arnie's Intercollegiate Title
ADA, Mich. – The Taylor men's golf team claimed its first tournament title of 2015-16 season on Tuesday as the Trojans won the Arnie's Intercollegiate Invitational at Egypt Valley Country Club.
Steady winds and periodic showers added to the challenge of Tuesday's final round on the 6,970-yard, par-72 layout of Egypt Valley Country Club's Valley Course. Despite the stiff test the Trojans carded the second lowest round of the day in the 16-team field, extending the four shot lead they had starting the day en route to a 9-shot victory.
Sophomore Trey Turner posted the low round of the day for the Trojans with a 2-over-par round of 74. Freshman Alec Dutkowski followed up an opening round 74 with a final round 75 and the Trojans got a pair of 79's from senior Stefan Fahlen and freshman Chase Picken for a team total of 307. Sophomore Mitch Lamping, who entered the round as the individual leader after a 3-under-par 69 on Monday, struggled to an 82 and was TU's drop score for the final round.
All five Trojans earned top-20 finished led by Dutkowski who carded a two-round total of 149 (74-75) to earn a spot on the all-tournament team with a fourth place finish in the 86-player field. Lamping (69-82) and Turner (77-74) were also named to the all-tournament team finishing in a tie for fifth place with a two-round total of 151. Fahlen (77-79) and Picken (77-79) finished in a tie for 17th place with a total of 156.
The Taylor "B" team also performed well at the event finishing in a tie for sixth place. Freshman Jeremy Ray led the way for the second squad earning a spot on the all-tournament team with a two-round total of 151 (73-78) to finish in a tie for fifth place. Junior Jordan Hall notched a tie for 26th place with a total of 158 (80-78) followed by junior Nathan Edwards who finished in a tie for 29th at 159 (79-80). Sophomore Josh Stimmel was one shot behind that at 160 (77-83) to finish in a tie for 35th as all nine Trojans finished in the top half of the field and five finished in the top ten.
Holy Cross (RV) took second place with a two-round total of 613 (305-308) with Davenport (RV) taking third place at 614 (301-313). Davenport's Mitchell Wandell took home individual medalist honors with a total of 1-over-par 145 (70-75).
The tournament victory for Taylor is the first since last spring when the Trojans won the Huntington Invitational. The Trojans will return to action next week at the Saint Francis invitational in Fort Wayne, Indiana before wrapping up the fall later in October at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.