The Malone University men’s golf team, led by veteran head coach Ken Hyland, was ranked third in the NAIA’s final national poll heading into this week’s NAIA National Championships at the TPC Deer Run in Silvis, Illinois.  The team knew that an NAIA national championship was not out of the question.  With definite aspirations of earning the school’s second NAIA national title in men’s golf (2000), the Pioneers were on the brink of doing just that after holding a share of first place after day three of the four-day 72-hole event.  Malone narrowly missed out on that goal, though, by a mere six strokes, as the team posted a score of 1190 (299-293-304-294) for a third-place national finish as Oklahoma City University won the national title with a score of 1184 (293-299-304-288).  Malone finished just one stroke behind runner-up Oklahoma Christian University, which had an 1189 (291-301-306-291).  South Carolina Beaufort finished fourth at 1191 (295-291-312-293) while Holy Names (CA) University rounded out the top five with a score of 1195 (296-302-305-292) among a 29-team field.  In addition, Ken Hyland was voted by his peers as the NAIA National Coach of the Year, an honor that typically goes to the coach of the national championship team.

The biggest story of the tournament, though, for Malone was the play of one Pioneer athlete in particular. Malone’s top golfer all season, junior Justin Lower (pictured above; Northwest H.S.) capped off a truly phenomenal season by capturing the individual NAIA national title.  Posting an incredible four-under-par score of 280 on the par 71 course over the four days, Lower easily won the individual title by six strokes over the runner-up finisher, Brett Quitiquit of Madonna (MI) University who finished at +2 (286).  With rounds of 68, 70, 71 and 71, Lower was the only golfer at the national tournament to finish under par for the event.  In addition, he became the second golfer in Malone history to earn an NAIA individual national crown, matching his coach, Ken Hyland, who did it in 1969 (when Hyland became Malone’s first-ever NAIA All-American in any sport with the feat).

At the conclusion of the tournament, Lower was named to the NAIA Ping All-America Team and also received the NAIA Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway as the medalist of the NAIA championship.  The victory was Lower’s eighth of the 2009-10 year.  The NAIA will name the Men’s Golf Player of the Year the week of May 24^th.  In addition to being named to the NAIA Ping All-America Team, Lower was also named a First Team GCAA (Golf Coaches Association of America) All-American.

As a team, Malone held the eighth spot after the first day of competition before posting the second-best score of day two to climb all the way into a tie for second place.  The Pioneers then moved into a tie for the lead after day three before slipping two spots for their third-place overall finish.

The team’s third-place finish would not have been possible without the outstanding play of the other four team members representing Malone at the event.  Ben Smith (Sr., Carrollton H.S.) finished second for Malone and 26^th overall with a score of 299 (72-76-79-72) while Tyler Light (Fr., Massillon Perry H.S.) was third for the team and 38^th overall at 303 (81-69-77-76).  Richie Schembechler (So., Massillon Washington H.S.) finished 69^th with a score of 312 (82-78-77-75) and Michael Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) tallied a 317 (78-78-84-77) to finish 83^rd.

The Malone University men’s golf team, led by veteran head coach Ken Hyland, captured its seventh consecutive AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament title last Thursday and Friday at the Apple Valley Golf Course in Howard, Ohio.  Ranked #3 in the NAIA national ratings, Malone emerged victorious in the 10-team field with a 54-hole total of 876 (288-296-292), a whopping 55 strokes ahead of runner-up finisher Cedarville University which had a 931.  Notre Dame College placed third at 936, the University of Northwestern Ohio took fourth at 943 and Daemen (NY) College rounded out the top five at 952.

With the victory, Malone earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships at TPC at Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois May 18-21.

At the AMC/NAIA Region IX event, Malone was the only team in the field to break 300 for an 18-hole round, which the team did for all three 18-hole segments.  Justin Lower (Jr., Northwest H.S.) earned medalist honors at the event with a score of 214 (67-71-76) while Ben Smith (Sr., Carrollton H.S.) was second overall at 216 (74-74-68).  Joining Lower and Smith on the All-Tournament (top 10 finishers and ties) for Malone were Richie Schembechler (So., Mass. Washington H.S.) in third at 220 (73-75-72) and Michael Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) in sixth at 227 (74-77-76).  Tyler Light (Fr., Perry H.S.) narrowly missed All-AMC honors as he finished 11^th at 233 (76-76-81).

The Malone University men’s golf team, ranked fourth in the latest NAIA national poll, captured its fifth tournament victory of the 2010 spring season at The College of Wooster Invitational last Friday and Saturday as the Pioneers posted a two-day score of 590 (291-299) among a 14-team field.  Malone defeated runner-up Baldwin-Wallace College, which tallied a score of 607 (301-306), by 17 strokes.  John Carroll University took third place at 624 (316-308), Mt. Union College was fourth at 628 (312-316) and Notre Dame (OH) College rounded out the top five at 629 (316-313).

Tyler Light (Fr., Perry H.S.) brought home overall medalist honors in winning the event with a score of 142 (73-69).  Ben Smith (Sr., Carrollton H.S.) was next for Malone in second-place overall and he posted a 145 (67-78), with his 67 on day one being the best 18-hole round of the event.  Justin Lower (Jr., Northwest H.S.) tied for fourth overall with a score of 148 (72-76), Richie Schembechler (So., Mass. Washington H.S.) was 17^th at 157 (81-76) and Michael Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) tallied a 159 (79-80) for 24^th place.

Malone will compete in the AMC/NAIA Region IX Championships at the Apple Valley Golf Course in Howard, Ohio on Thursday and Friday (April 29-30).

The Malone University men’s golf team (B squad) captured the Notre Dame (OH) College Invitational among a three-team field on Thursday with a score of 297.  Notre Dame was second at 317 and Grove City (PA) College took third at 328.

Jay Hollifield (Fr., Louisville H.S.) led the way for Malone and took medalist honors with a round of 70, followed by Quinn Parker (Jr., Canton Central Catholic H.S.) with a 74.  Other scores for Malone included Zach Keller (Jr., Wynford H.S.) at 76, Steve Robison (Jr., Jackson H.S.) at 77 and Ryan Gaughan (Jr., Lake H.S.) with an 80.

The Malone University men’s golf team, ranked fourth in the latest NAIA national ratings, posted a first-place finish among a nine-team field at the Tannenhauf Golf Course in Alliance, Ohio last Friday and Saturday.  Malone tallied a two-day score of 601 (297-304) to win the team title as Mount Union College finished in second place, posting a 603.  Davenport (MI) University came in third at 608 (296-312), Marian (IN) University finished in fourth place with a 614 (302-312).  Rounding out the top five was the University of Northwestern Ohio at 632 (319-313).

For Malone, Justin Lower (Jr., Northwest H.S.) tied for first overall with a score of 147 (74-73) but lost on the first-hole of a three-way playoff.  Lower was named as a member of the five-man All-Tournament Team.  Ben Smith (Sr., Carrollton H.S.) finished second for the team with a score of 151 (78-73) while Tyler Light (Fr., Perry H.S.) took third for Malone with a score of 152 (73-79).  Richie Schembechler (So., Mass. Washington H.S.) and Michael Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) were next for the squad with a scores of 155 (Schembechler 74-81; Strayer 76-79).

Ryan Gaughan (Jr., Lake H.S.) was one of numerous Malone players to compete individually at the event and fired an impressive 150 (77-73), good enough for fifth place overall and a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Steve Robison (Jr., Jackson H.S.), with rounds of 73-77, and Zach Keller (Jr., Wynford H.S.) with rounds of 74-46, also posted scores of 150 but were edged out of the fifth and final all-tourney spot by virtue of a tiebreaker. Quinn Parker (Jr., Canton Central Catholic H.S.) posted a 152 (76-76) and Jay Hollifield (Fr., Louisville H.S.) tallied a 154 (80-74).  Additionally, Mark Zimmerman (Sr., GlenOak H.S.) carded an 81 on Friday but did not post a score on Saturday.