Davis, Ricketts led Men's Golf to record-setting effort at 2017 OAC Championships
By Tim Glon
WEST LAFAYETTE -- Seniors Tyler Davis (Liberty Center) and Blaine Ricketts (Belle Center/Ben Logan) earned All-Conference honors to lead the Ohio Northern men's golf team in a record-setting effort at the 2017 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships Thursday-Saturday at River Greens Golf Club.
The Polar Bears end their season with a 49-33-1 record after finishing fourth of eight teams with a 54-hole total of 296-299-308—903.
Davis earned All-OAC honors with a second place finish in an ONU-record 54-hole total of 72-73-73—218. His 218 tied the previous 54-hole school record, but his 2-over par 54-hole total was six-shots better than the 8-over par 218 shot by Ben Kretz in 2009.
The second place finish by Davis tied the best OAC finish by a Polar Bear, equalling the second place finish by Colin Burns in 2012.
Ohio Northern's 54-hole score of 903 was one shot better then the school record 904 set in 2008.
Ricketts also earned All-OAC kudos, as he tied for 12th with a 73-76-77—226.
Both men are now two-time All-Conference honorees.
The top 14 players and ties after the 72 holes are completed earn All-Conference honors.
Junior Zach Goodchild (Pickerington/North) tied for 17th with a 73-77-77—227, sophomore Joshua Turich (Centerville) was 27th with a 78-74-82—234 and sophomore Nick Anderson (Mason) tied for 28th with a 78-76-81—235.
Scott Schroeder of Baldwin Wallace won Medalist honors with a 73-65-78—216.
After playing 27 holes on Friday, the 40 golfers only played nine of the scheduled 27 holes on Saturday due to heavy rains in the area.
The tournament was shortened to 54 holes as the teams only played nine of the scheduled 27 holes on Saturday due to rain.
Northern entered Sunday's final round in second place just 10 shots behind Otterbein, but only 11 shots separated Ohio Northern in second from John Carroll in fifth place in the tight field.
Sunday's final round was played in warm, but very windy conditions.
Mount Union rallied from fourth place to finish second with a 298-303-292—893, John Carroll also moved up two spots in the final round to finish third with a 302-304-295—901 and Baldwin Wallace fell to fifth with a 304-296-309—909.
Team Standings
1. Otterbein 286-299-298—883, 2. Mount Union 298-303-292—893, 3. John Carroll 302-304-295—901, 4. Ohio Northern 296-299-308—903, 5. Baldwin Wallace 304-296-309—909, 6. Capital 311-310-308—929, 7. Muskingum 317-312-311—940, 8 . Heidelberg 319-309-317—945.
Top 14 Individuals (All-OAC)
1. Scott Schroeder (BW) 73-65-78—216, 2. Tyler Davis (ONU) 72-73-73—218, 3. Kris Clarke (Ott) 70-75-74—219, 4. Connor O'Grady (JCU) 72-73-75—210, t5. Kurt Fortman (Ott) 70-76-75—221, t5. Austin Wells (Ott) 73-74-74—211, 7. John Schnur (JCU) 77-77-68—222, t8. Luke Engle (MtU) 74-75-74—223, t8. Tyler Elgin (Ott) 73-75-75—223, t10. Matt Kerschner (BW) 72-75-77—224, t10. Andrew Thompson (MtU) 76-74-74—224, t12. Blaine Ricketts (ONU) 73-76-77—226, t12. Luke Janci (Musk) 78-75-73—226, t12. Buster Thomas (MtU) 74-77-75—226. t12. Jake Brake (MtU) 77-77-723—226, t12. Sean Croel (MtU) 74-80-723—226.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
2. Tyler Davis 72-73-73—218, t12. Blaine Ricketts 73-76-77—226, t17. Zach Goodchild 73-77-77—227, 27. Joshua Turich 78-74-82—234, t28. Nick Anderson 78-76-81—235.
