Tigers Take Fifth at NCAA Division III Match Play Invitational

GREENSBORO, North Carolina—Wittenberg men's golf battled the rainy and chilly conditions in Greensboro, N.C. over the weekend, as the Tigers competed at the NCAA Division III Match Play Invitational.

The event was held at the Grandover Resort, the host site of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2018. While the event is only in year two, the 2018 Invitational featured 16 teams, making it one of the largest college match-play tournaments in NCAA history.

With the pairings based on the national rankings, Wittenberg drew Piedmont in the opening match. Colin Laszlo recorded a 6&5 victory in the opening match, as the Tigers moved on based on the total number of holes won.

Coach Leotta on the Piedmont match…

"This was a really tough match. We didn't get off to a great start and really had to work to get back into position. We let a couple matches get away late to ties but Piedmont had a lot to do with that as well. Pleased we were able to get out with the win."

Wittenberg drew Greensboro in the quarterfinals, as the Tiger's fell 3-2. Ryan Mallette earned a 4&3 victory, and Cameron Willis a 5&4 victory as the Tigers came up short in the quarterfinals of the Invitational.

Coach Leotta on the Greensboro match…

"Again, a bit of a slow start for our guys. I thought we really played hard and fought for every hole. Greensboro did a good job of getting a couple early leads and extending them on us making a late comeback difficult."

With the Tigers out of contention for the overall team title, Wittenberg worked their way through the consolation bracket to earn a fifth-place finish as a team on Saturday. Wittenberg fought of Mary Washington 3-2 in the first match, and then disposed of Webster 3-2 in the fifth-place match. Hope College defeated Texas-Tyler for the championship, as Guilford took third, and Greensboro fourth to round out the teams ahead of Wittenberg.

Coach Leotta on the Mary Washington match…

"I was really proud of our guys in this match. It was rough out there with the rain and we had a good team that was up to play us. I really liked how our guys responded."

Coach Leotta on the Webster match…

"Again, another tough match. I liked how we responded late when Webster put some pressure on us."

Wittenberg returns to action on Sunday, April 15 at the Wright State Invitational at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton, Ohio.

 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Match Play Invitational

April 6, 2018

First-Round Results

#1 Texas-Tyler 5 def. #16 Sewanee 'B', 5-0

 #8 Mary Washington def. #9 Otterbein, 2-1-2

#4 Greensboro def. #13 Mt. St. Joseph, 2-1-2

#5 Wittenberg def. #12 Piedmont, 2.5-2.5 (Wittenberg wins on total holes won)

#3 Hope def. #14 Christopher Newport, 3-0-2

#6 Rhodes def. #11 Transylvania, 3-2

#10 Webster def. #7 Hampden-Sydney, 3-2

#2 Guilford def. #15 Lynchburg, 3-2

Quarterfinals

#1 Texas-Tyler def. #8 Mary Washington, 3-1-1

#4 Greensboro def. #5 Wittenberg, 3-2

#3 Hope def. #11 Transylvania, 5-0

#2 Guilford def. #10 Webster, 3-2

Consolation

#9 Otterbein def. #16 Sewanee 'B', 5-0

#12 Piedmont def. #13 Mt. St. Joseph, 3-0-2

#14 Christopher Newport def. #6 Rhodes, 4-1

#7 Hampden-Sydney def. #15 Lynchburg, 4-1

April 7, 2018

Semifinals

#1 Texas-Tyler def. #4 Greensboro, 3-2

#3 Hope def. #2 Guilford, 3-2

Consolation

#9 Otterbein def. #12 Piedmont, 3-2

#7 Hampden-Sydney d. #14 Chris. Newport, 3-2

#5 Wittenberg def. #8 Mary Washington, 3-2

#10 Webster def. #11 Transylvania, 3-2

#13 Mt. St. Joseph def. #16 Sewanee 'B', 3-1-1

#15 Lynchburg def. #6 Rhodes, 3-2

Final

#3 Hope def. #1 Texas-Tyler, 3-1-1

Third-Place Match

#2 Guilford def. #4 Greensboro, 3-2

Fifth-Place Match

#5 Wittenberg def. #10 Webster, 3-2

Seventh-Place Match

#8 Mary Washington def. #11 Transylvania, 3-2

Ninth-Place Match

#9 Otterbein def. #7 Hampden-Sydney, 3-2

11^th-Place Match

#12 Piedmont def. #14 Chris. Newport, 3-2

13^th-Place Match

#13 Mt. St. Joseph def. #15 Lynchburg, 4-1

15^th-Place Match

#6 Rhodes vs. #16 Sewanee 'B', DNP