NEWTON, Kan. - Over the weekend, the Mid-America Christian University men's golf team headed north for the Bethel (Kan.) College Spring Invitational, a golf tournament that was unique in two ways. The event is a rare small college tournament held on a weekend, which courses usually shy away from in order to maximize revenues, and it took place on two separate courses - Hesston Municipal Golf Park for Saturday's round, and Sand Creek Station Golf Course for the final round.
The Evangels posted a pair of solid rounds on the weekend, and they claimed a seventh place finish in the 18-team event. On the par-71 Hesston Golf Park, the Evangels posted an opening 302, and they followed that with a 307 on the par-72 Sand Creek Station. MACU finished ahead of eight other NAIA schools, including the host Threshers in the event.
In the 10 competitive rounds played by MACU's team golfers on the weekend, the Evangels avoided posting a single score in the 80s, which greatly contributed to the team finish.
The Evangels were led by Kaden Upton, who finished in a 16th-place tie at a 7-over-par total of 150. Upton birdied twice in the final round to post a team-best 75. He went out in 36 on the difficult course, and he was the only Evangel to play both sides of the course in under 40 strokes.
Austin Davis finished 22nd, and he and Isaac Maston each shot a 77 in the last round. Davis did not card a birdie in the round, but he was the only Evangel to not record a double-bogey in the round either. Maston started slowly, but he played the final eight holes in 1-under par with birdies on on the 11th and 16th holes, and he finished tied for 34th (155)
Gage Gibson finished in a 30th-place tie at 154 after a final round 78, and Wyatt Bonds finished the event tied for 40th after shooting 79 in the final round. Each birdied one hole on the day, Gibson the par-4 eighth, and Bonds the par-5 16th. Cooper Sperle competed as an individual as well, shooting a 171 (86-85).
MACU will have one final tune-up before the conference tournament. The Evangels' penultimate event will take place on April 15-16 at Carey Park Golf Club in Hutchison, Kansas at the Sterling College Spring Invitational.
