Trojans Finish Runner-Up in Battle at Blackthorn
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Taylor men's golf team tallied a final round team score of 296 but it wasn't enough to propel the Trojans to the top of the leaderboard during the final round of the Battle at Blackthorn.
The eighth-ranked Trojans entered Saturday's final round trailing Crossroads League foe Indiana Wesleyan by three shots after TU tallied an opening round 303. The Wildcats held off Taylor with a team score of 296 to secure a three-shot victory with a two-round total of 596 (300-296). The Trojans finished nine shots clear of No. 23 Holy Cross and ten shots ahead of Saint Francis. Fellow Crossroads League teams Grace (320+313=633) and Bethel (334+333=667) also competed.
Senior All-American Alec Dutkowski led the way for Taylor with a final round 71 to finish a 1-under par 143 and in third place on the individual leaderboard. Freshman Lucas Beck tied a career-low with a 74 during the final round while junior Nate Morris added a 75, senior Jeremy Ray carded a 76, and sophomore Brady Roberts finished at 77.
Ray (75-76) tallied a top-10 finish with a tie for seventh place while Morris (77-75) finished one shot back in a tie for ninth place. Beck (79-74) added a tie for 11th place while Roberts (81-77) finished tied for 22nd.
The Trojans have now finished second in each of their first two tournaments of the season. TU will return to action on Monday and Tuesday as the Trojans travel to The Grande Golf Club in Jackson, Michigan for the Bill Bockwitz Classic hosted by Spring Arbor University.