Men's Golf kicks off season with third place finish at ODU Kickoff Classic

By Caleb Scott

GRANVILLE - The Ohio Northern men's golf team opened the 2015 season with a third place finish at the Ohio Dominican Kickoff Classic Monday afternoon at the Jefferson Country Club in Blacklick, Ohio. 

The Polar Bears (6-2 overall) finished with a 594 in the event.

Northern was led by junior Blaine Ricketts who finished fourth out of 44 golfers and shot a 76-71—147 on the afternoon.

The Polar Bears were also paced by senior Rick Deichert who tied for fifth place after shooting a 74-74—148. Deichert led the field by racking up 25 pars in the 36-hole tournament. 

Sophomore Tim Monroe also placed in the top-10 for ONU as he posted a 76-73—149 on the afternoon and finished tied for tenth.

Indianapolis (Ind.) won the event with a 584, Otterbein was second with a 590 and Ohio Northern finished third with a 594. 

The Polar Bears will return to action September 18 as they travel to the Royal American golf course for the Capital Fall Invitational.

Team Standings

1. Indianapolis (Ind.) 584, 2. Otterbein 590, 3. Ohio Northern 594, 4. Ohio Dominican 602, 5. Findlay 608, 6. Capital 618, 7. Ohio Valley 631, 8. Columbus State Community College 648, 9. Lake Erie College 504.

Top 5 Individuals

1. Graham McAree (Ind) 138, 2. David Monaco (Ott) 141, 3. Daniel Shafer (Cap) 143, 4. Blaine Ricketts (ONU) 147, t5. Rick Deichert (ONU) 148, t5. Austin Wells (Ott) 148, t5. Andrew VanAelst (Ind) 148, t5. Andrew Wayman (ODU) 148, t5. Reid Lorey (Ind) 148.

ONU Individual Results

4. Blaine Ricketts 147, t5. Rick Deichert 148, t10. Tim Monroe 149, t20. Zach Goodchild 152, t31. Tyler Davis 156.

Other Individual Results

t36. Thomas Lee 158, t45. Joshua Turich 164, t50. David Gorman 175, 57. Tanner Rader 204.