Men’s Golf Improves on Final Day of DC Invitational

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance wrapped up its 2009 Spring Invitation on Saturday at Kettenring Country Club and ended ninth at the 10-team event. The Jackets' second-day total was eight shots better than Friday's round but it was not enough to gain ground in the standings. 

Jace Neal and Jared James each improved their scores on Saturday and held onto their top-30 finishes to pace the Defiance squad. Neal shot an 82 to finish in 26th with a two-day total of 165, while James led DC with a 79 on Saturday to end in 29th with a 166. Matt Gehring (172), Brian Jones (176) and Greg Vogt (177) rounded out the scoring for Defiance. 

The team championship went to Heidelberg after it finished with a 614 to top Ohio Northern by 14 strokes. Trine finished third with a 630, Mount St. Joseph took fourth with a 634 and Franklin ended fifth with a 647. 

The ONU 'B' team (652), MSJ 'B' squad (652), Rochester (657), Defiance (676) and the Tiffin 'B' lineup (683) rounded out the team standings. 

The individual winner was Heidelberg's Zack Koinis, who shot a 144 to edge ONU's Ben Kretz and Tiffin's Dillon Klein by four strokes. 

Defiance will be back on the links for its final event of the regular season when it travels to Angola, Ind., on April 17 and 18 to compete in the Trine Invitational. DC will then open the HCAC Championships on April 25 in Terre Haute, Ind.