The Valparaiso University men’s golf team finished out competition at the Marquette Intercollegiate at Milwaukee Country Club in River Hills, Wis. on Monday. The Crusaders were led by Peter Webb (Madison, Wis. / James Madison Memorial) and Ross Lazar (Okemos, Mich. / Okemos), both of whom scored a 75 in the third round of the tournament.

How It Happened

• After posting an 80 in Round 1 and an 83 in Round 2, Lazar enjoyed his best round of the tournament. He finished with a 54-hole score of 238 (+28), fourth on the team and 63^rd overall.
• Webb bounced back after stroking a 77 in the second round with his 75 in Round 3. He finished the tournament at 226 (+16), tied for 49^th overall.
• Mitchell Wittmann (Kaukauna, Wis. / Kaukuna) posted a 76 on Monday to finish the event at a team-best 225 (+15). He tied for 47^th place in the tournament.
• Junior Zach Cutler (O’Fallon, Mo. / Timberland) had his best round of the tournament on Monday, stroking a 76. He finished the event at 234, placing 63^rd.
• Adam Baracani (Normal, Ill. / University) carded an 84 on Monday and finished the tournament at 239, while Matthew McCarthy (O’Fallon, Ill. / Althoff Catholic), who was competing individually, turned in an 80 and also finished at 239.

Inside the Rounds

• Webb led the Crusaders with five birdies in the tournament, while Baracani, Cutler, Wittmann, Lazar and McCarthy turned in four apiece.
• The team score of 302 in the third round was Valpo’s best round of the tournament. The Crusaders finished the event with a team score of 915 (+75) in 10^th place in a 10-team field.

Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring

"The tournament was held on one of the most exclusive golf courses in the Midwest and it was a terrific experience for our guys to play such a challenging golf course.  The tournament had a ‘mini’ NCAA Regional type of feel, when you consider teams from all over the country, like UCLA, SMU, Ole Miss, Seton Hall and more. Playing against these type of schools is invaluable and it will benefit us well as the season progresses."

"We had our struggles with the back nine holes on this course and we had a hard time overcoming that in all three of our rounds.  We played the back nine +56, while the front nine was +19, when figuring the scores that we counted each round.  Our birdie production was poor and we have to find ways to simply get the ball closer to the hole in regulation."

"While Mitchell and Pete scored fairly consistent for us, we need to have more rounds at and below par from the entire team. The guys continue to have a good attitude and they are certainly putting the effort in on the golf course. We will look forward to a couple more weeks of good practice, as we prepare for our final fall tournament at Dayton."

Up Next

The Crusaders will return to the course on Oct. 17-18 with the Dayton Flyer Invitational at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.