Valparaiso’s men’s golf team opened the 2010 spring season on Tuesday, posting its best Division I finish of the year, placing sixth out of nine teams at the Butler Spring Invitational held at Prestwick Country Club in Avon, Ind.

The Crusaders posted a round of 307 in the rain-shortened 18-hole event, bettering conference rival Butler by three strokes.  Valpo also finished ahead of Robert Morris (Pa.) (311) and IUPUI (312). Dayton and Loyola (Chicago) shared the team honors at 292 over the 6,630-yard, par-71 layout.  Evansville was third (297) followed by Green Bay (302), Eastern Illinois (303), and Valpo.

“I am really proud of the guys and the way they played today,” head coach Mike Higdon said.  “They turned in their best finish of the year in terms of place.”

Josh Kalita (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) and Brad Winters (Elgin, Ill./Saint Edward H.S.) turned in the team’s low rounds of the day, both posting three-over par rounds of 74.  For Winters, it was his lowest collegiate round of his career.  Adam Gray (Portland, Ind./Jay County H.S.) added a 77 for the Brown and Gold.

“Our top three players were really solid today,” Higdon added.

Andy Webb (Bedford, Ind./North Lawrence H.S.) shot 82 and Andrew Beischel (Whitefish Bay, Wis./Whitefish Bay H.S.) carded an 83 to round out the Valpo lineup.

The Crusaders will return to the links on Saturday and Sunday for the Ball State Cardinal Collegiate.  The 54-hole event will begin with 36 holes on Saturday starting at 7:15 a.m. CDT at Sultan’s Run Golf Club.