Golf - MVC championship

[RoyalShock]

Round 1 has been completed at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, KS (which, by the way, is hosting the 2006 US Men's Senior Open this summer).

WSU leads by 9 strokes.

http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=756

[redbirdtim]

WSU should run away with this one. Playing close to home and on a course they are likely familiar with. They are the best team in the Valley and will hopefully, should they hold on, do well at regionals.

[RoyalShock]

WSU (+15) only leads Drake by 6 strokes and two others are within 10 - ISU at +23 and SIU at +25. A lot can happen with 72 holes for each team yet to be played.

As for the location, I'm not sure how familiar the Shocks are with it. Prairie Dunes is an hour's drive from WSU. I'm glad to see the MVC tournament there this year. There was a recent run of having the Big 12 tournament there every year.

[redbirdtim]

Royal, you mean 72 counted holes right. It's actually 90 holes...5 players x 18 holes apiece is 90 holes. Six strokes isn't usually a lot, but unless WSU has a couple guys really falter, I think you all have the title locked up. I hope the Birds can make a very nice run today though and give you some competition.

[Drakey]

WSU leads only because of one player. The Bulldogs can still win this. Does any other school in the Valley have a player on the PGA tour?

[RoyalShock]

redbirdtim, I was indeed referring to counted holes. And it's true that the difference is WSU's Ryan Spears who leads Drake's Kane Hanson by 5 strokes, which is also WSU's overall lead over Drake. Which so far means, Spears is da man!

But Spears and Hanson are only through the 6th hole today. Things could still change.

[RoyalShock]

Quick update - Thanks to WSU's Brad Boan dropping 4 strokes over his last 3 holes, WSU's lead is down to 2 over Drake and 7 over ISU.

[engrshock]

This is a tough nasty day to play golf. Strong winds and 40 to 50 degree weather is not conducive to good golf. The wind is in the 20 to 30 mph and the course eats shots that go into the tall rough (gunch).

[shockinphi]

I've played the Dunes in this kind of weather and it is not very much fun. Especially with the wind coming out of the north. Prairie Dunes is very wide open off the tee, the approach is where it gets really difficult. You really can't make any kind of mistake or you're dead.

[RoyalShock]

As a team, WSU and Drake have 9 holes to play (3 players, 3 holes each). WSU has a 2 stroke lead (+41 to +43).

[RoyalShock]

It's finally over. With 3 holes to play, WSU had a 1 stroke lead. But Ryan Spears' birdie on 18 sealed a 2 stroke WSU win. Spears won medalist honors by 7 strokes.

[outpost]

Just confirmed the results on MVC's website.

That's 6 titles in 8 years for WSU Men's Golf.

:shockers: :shockers: :shockers: :shockers: :shockers: