Men's Golf Tops Field at MIAA Spring Finale, Secures Title Three-Peat

Hope qualifies for this month's NCAA Division III Championships

Displaying steady hands on a challenging course, the Hope College men's golf team found the consistent shot-making needed to cap another championship season.

The Flying Dutchmen three-peated as the MIAA champion on Thursday, closing out a winning 108-hole, eight-month effort by shooting 14-over-par 302 for the second consecutive day at the 7,011-yard Bella Vista Golf Course in Coldwater.

The Orange and Blue finished the 36-hole, two-day MIAA Spring Finale four strokes ahead of second-place Adrian College (306-302—608) and six strokes ahead of third-place Calvin University (299-311—610).

Hope completed MIAA play, which began in September, with a first-place total of 1,765 strokes, 19 strokes ahead of runner-up Trine University. Four rounds were held last fall; two rounds this spring.

Led by head coach Scott Lokers, the Flying Dutchmen became MIAA champions for the 24th time in program history and clinched a berth to this month's NCAA Division III National Championships.

"We were up and down those first nine holes on Wednesday," Lokers said. "These guys did not panic. They just tried to keep hitting good shots, doing what we can do. We've not played well this spring, particularly. We have been making steps forward and felt like we needed to pull together and play solid golf. It was all five guys; that part was really helpful."

The Orange and Blue overcame an early eight-stroke deficit after Thursday's front-nine that launched Calvin as a challenger to the seasonal crown along with Trine. The tournament was played with staggered tee times, with Hope in the final group.

Junior Liam Casey (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central HS) led the Flying Dutchmen surge, finishing 36 holes in second place at 1-over par after rounds of 73 on Wednesday and 72 on Thursday.

Adrian's Cameron Bozyk claimed medalist honors in a field of 47 golfers at 3-under, carding a 71 on Thursday and a 70 on Friday.

Hope posted four of the 15 low individual totals for the tournament.

Senior Will Webb (Lake Forest, Illinois / Lake Forest) placed 10th at 9-over after shooting 77 on Wednesday and 76 on Thursday.

Webb went 1-under over the back nine on Thursday, carding an eagle on the 535-yard, par-5 15th and birdies on the 213-yard, par-3 12th and the 386-yard, par-4 14th.

Senior Jack Guerrera (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) and freshman Will Thomas (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central) finished in a four-way tie for 12th at 11-over.

Guerrera posted rounds of 77 on Wednesday and 78 on Friday. Thomas finished with a 75 on Wednesday and an 80 on Friday.

Junior Patrick Michael (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) chipped in 76 on Thursday and tied for 18th at 13-over.

Sophomore Hank Roebuck (Ann Arbor, Michigan / Skyline) shot his best round of the MIAA Spring Finale on Thursday with a 75.

Lokers said his team's steadiness paid off on the back nine on Wednesday. Hope recorded 33 pars and two birdies over the final 45 holes to pull within three strokes of the lead.

The Flying Dutchmen took over the overall lead at the tournament on Thursday by shooting 29 more pars and five birdies on the front nine and 25 more pars and four birdies and one eagle on the back nine. Hope matched Adrian for low round of the day at 302.

Lokers said he was proud of how his golfers persevered through a competitive MIAA schedule and a trying return to play this spring.

"This spring season has been a learning experience. Our team has faced quite a bit of adversity: injury, illness and other challenges. I am so proud of our players for pulling together in the face of this adversity. This group could have splintered apart, but they did not. They pulled together," Lokers said. "We learned we did not want to be defined by our results. We wanted to be defined by focusing on the positive opportunities in front of us, namely, being grateful for the good gifts God gives, encouraging each other, and finding ways to have fun playing the game we all love."

Hope's next round is Tuesday-Friday, May 20-23, at the NCAA Division III Championships hosted at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York.

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Players Mentioned

Liam Casey: Junior; Businnes

Jack Guerrera: Senior; Accounting, Public Accounting

Patrick Michael: Junior; Communication

Hank Roebuck: Sophomore

Will Webb: Senior; Communication

Will Thomas: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Liam Casey
: Junior; Businnes

Jack Guerrera
: Senior; Accounting, Public Accounting

Patrick Michael
: Junior; Communication

Hank Roebuck
: Sophomore

Will Webb
: Senior; Communication

Will Thomas
: Freshman