Men's Golf ready for SLIAC Championship April 20-21

The 2015 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Golf Champion will be decided April 20-21 at Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka, Mo. Webster University will be looking to defend its conference title while Blackburn, Eureka, Fontbonne, MacMurray, Spalding, and Westminster will provide the competition.

Webster won the 2014 SLIAC Championship with a team score of 877, edging out Spalding University. The win for the Gorloks was their sixth in program history, setting a new SLIAC record. Last tournament they were led by Tyler Thorman, who placed second, and Thorman is expected to once again challenge for top individual honors. Thorman was the top finisher for Webster three times this spring and shot a low round of 75. Brodie Dakin, who finished 5th last year, had a team best 73 round this spring and could challenge as well.

Spalding, who cracked the national rankings earlier this season, have put together a strong spring; finishing ahead of Webster twice in tournament play this year. Spalding will be looking to secure their second SLIAC Championship in program history after winning in 2013. The Golden Eagles are led by Jonathon Gandia who had two top ten finishes in tournaments this season with a low round of 71. Gandia will be looking to improve on his seventh place finish in last year's conference tournament. Spalding's depth is evident as Michael Vick had a top ten finish this spring while shooting a 72 and Brandon Sanner won a dual match against Division II Bellarmine with a round of 74.

Fontbonne University, who finished third in last year's championship, has won five SLIAC titles in program history with their last coming in 2006. The Griffins have a strong one-two combo of Zane Betz and Kory Carter. Each player had two top team finishes this spring. Carter had a team low round of 73 this spring while Betz top round was a 79.

Blackburn College and MacMurray College will be looking to add to their trophy collection with each team having won two previous SLIAC Championships. Blackburn last won in 2010 and will be led by Matt Liddell and Kyle Kesinger. Liddell had a team best round of 75 this year while Kesinger had a top finish with a round of 80. MacMurray is looking for their first title since 1997 and will rely on Cory Cooper to carry the team. Cooper had three top finishes for the Highlanders with a low round of 75 this spring. Max Reiske tied for the team low round this spring with a 75 while Tarryn Link had a top finish and shot a low of 82 this spring.

Iowa Wesleyan College is coming off a tie for third in last year's conference tournament. The Tigers Michael Neff is looking to improe on his eight place finish from last year and has one top ten tournament finish this spring. Blake Hoekstra led the Tigers with two top finishes for Iowa Wesleyan and had a team best round of 75.

Westminster College is looking for their second title in program history, with a previous win coming in 1996. The Blue Jays are led by Blake Stonecipher who has two top finishes and a low round of 79 this spring. Eureka College will put its hopes on a first conference title in Nick Fulop. Fulop has two top finishes for the Red Devils with a low round of 87 this spring.

Courtesy of the SLIAC