Trojans Finish Season at National Championship
SILVIS, Ill. – The 16th-ranked Taylor men's golf team saw its season come to a close on Wednesday as the Trojans failed to make the cut at the 2022 NAIA National Championship.
Taylor did its best to claw back into contention on Wednesday as TU posted a solid team score of 292 (+8) but the Trojans' slow start in Monday's opening round was too much to overcome as Taylor finished ten shots outside the cut line.
Javan Johnson again led the way for Taylor on Wednesday as the redshirt junior posted a round of even-par 71 that included four birdies. Junior Drew Pickering got off to a quick start with a birdie on the par-4 first hole and an eagle on the par-5 second then added four more birdies on the back nine to finish at 1-over par 72. Junior Noah Ross tallied four birdies of his own to finish at 74.
Sophomore Adam Kasitz rebounded from a poor start with a back-nine 33 to finish at 75 while junior Erik Fahlen posted a 36 on the inward nine for a 76.
"I'm extremely proud of these guys and the way we battled today," Taylor coach Cameron Andry said following the round. "We put ourselves in a big hole after the first round and it was just too much to overcome today but we showed a lot of grit in the way we played down the stretch."
Taylor did climb five spots on the leaderboard, finishing in 23rd place with a two-round total of 597 (305-292).
The Trojans finish the season with seven tournament victories, including a sixth consecutive Crossroads League title.
"We're disappointed to miss the cut at the National Championship but I don't want that to overshadow the great season this team has had," Andry added. "These guys have worked extremely hard, competed at a high level, and strived to honor the Lord each day. I'm proud of them and already excited for next year."
The Trojans will return each of their top six players next season as TU makes a run at a seventh straight Crossroads League title in 2023.