Third-Day St. Norbert Charge Leads to Second-Place Finish at MWC Championship

From Sports Information Director, May 2, 2009 | Men's Golf
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

ROCKFORD, Ill. - A red-hot score of 311 on the third day of the Midwest Conference Championship led St. Norbert College to a second-place finish at the 54-hole event held at Aldeen Golf Club.

The Green Knights totaled 951 to finish eight strokes behind conference champion Monmouth College, which fired a 943. St. Norbert entered the final day in fifth place, but its 311 was the best daily score of the tournament. The Green Knights finished two strokes ahead of third-place Carroll University, and five strokes ahead of both Grinnell College and Knox College.

It was St. Norbert's best conference finish since 2000, when it also finished second. The Green Knights, who have never won a MWC golf championship, had not finished higher than fourth in the last eight years.

Gabe Dahl was St. Norbert's lone top-10 finisher, finishing in third place with a 78-78-72 - 228. Dahl's 72 was the second-best round of the tournament, behind medalist Mark Strain's 71 on day three. Strain, of Illinois College, shot a six-over 222 to win the tournament.

Brian Kuehl was 14th with an 82-79-80 - 240, while Seth Oberschlake was 15th at 82-81-79 - 242. B.J. O'Brien finished in a tie for 22nd with a 78-82-89 - 249.

Michael Zera was 37th with an 89-91-80 - 260, while Alex Wagner carded a 100-86-91 - 277 to finish 47th.