Tigers Make Big Move On Day 3 Of NCAA Championships

Wittenberg moved up five spots with the low round of day on the challenging Raven course at the Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort.

Sam Geise shot two-over-par 73 to spark Wittenberg to one of the day's best rounds of 297. File Photo | Russell Kramer

May 16, 2013

DESTIN, Fla. – On Day 3 of the 2013 NCAA Division III Championships, the Wittenberg men's golf team made its biggest move of the tournament, climbing five spots after shooting the lowest score of the round.

The Tigers posted a team score of 297 on the par-71, 6,854-yard Raven course at the Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort, matching the marks turned in by Emory and tournament-leading Transylvania. As a result, Wittenberg moved up from a tie for 13^th place at the start of the day to a tie for eighth place heading into the fourth and final round on Friday.

Wittenberg, ranked 12^th in the latest national poll, now has a realistic chance of equaling the best national finish in the men's golf program's 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Tigers placed fourth in the 1990 event. A year ago, Wittenberg finished seventh.

Wittenberg's three-day team score of 903 is 27 strokes behind Transylvania, which holds a narrow two-stroke lead on Texas-Tyler. The Tigers are tied with Gustavus Adolphus, four strokes behind La Verne and seven strokes back of Claremont Mudd Scripps and Emory, which are tied for fifth place.

Junior David Wetterich (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) continued his tremendous play, carding a two-over-par 73 to move up to ninth place in the overall individual standings with a three-round total of 220. His third round score was matched by freshman Sam Geise (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), who had his best mark of the competition to move up to 66^th place overall with a score of 235.

"Today's round showed that once again it takes a total team effort to succeed in college golf," said Head Coach Jeff Roope. "I'm really proud of the fact that we have 11 players on this team who can all step in and perform when needed.

"All five of the guys playing this week have made key contributions to the team's success."

Junior Ben Hogenkamp (Minster, Ohio/Minster) was also hot on Day 3, carding a 74 to move up to 27^th place with a three-day score of 223. Sophomore Alex Andrews (Kirtland, Ohio/Gilmour Academy) added a 77 and stands 59^th with a score of 233, and senior Craig Osterbrock (Wilmington, Ohio/Wilmington) rounded things out with an 83. He stands 69^th overall with a score of 237.