The Wabash golf team endured cold and windy conditions at Hulman Links in Terre Haute Thursday afternoon to take an 8-1/2 to 5-1/2 victory over Rose-Hulman in the Little Giant-Engineer Match Play Classic. The victory allows Wabash to keep the traveling trophy after reclaiming it in the fall with a 9-1/2 to 3-1/2 win over the Engineers.
Jordan Vice earned the top spot in individual play with a single-round total of 79. Freshman Sam Russell was second with an 80 to take second. Newcomer Kyle Nagdeman turned in his second-best round as a freshman with an 81 to tie for fifth overall. Brandon Neighbors (82), JP Manalo (86), and Bryan Arnold (90) completed the team scoring to total a 498. That score topped Rose's 508 to give the Little Giants their first team point.
Vice won his head-to-head matchup by a score of 5 & 3 using the same scoring system implemented in Ryder Cup play. Russell also won his individual match 4 & 3, then joined with Vice to take a 5 & 3 win in team best ball competition.
Manalo picked up a team point with a 2 & 1 individual victory, as did Neighbors with a 2 Up win. Neighbors and Kevin Andrews combined for a 1 Up win in best ball. Nagdeman added the final full point for the Little Giants with a 5 & 3 victory. Andrews finished All Square in his individual match to split a point between the two teams.
Wabash will travel to Delaware, Ohio this weekend to compete in the Strimer Invitational, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University. The event is part of a four-tournament process to determine the North Coast Athletic Conferece automatic qualifier for the upcoming NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. The DIII championships will be hosted by Anderson University and will be played at the Prairie View Golf Club and Hawthorns Golf and Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana May 15-18.