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2019 SLIAC Men's Golf Championship

Webster University will look to defend their St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title early next week when the 2019 SLIAC Men's Golf Tournament tees off. Webster has won two straight titles and will be in a field with fellow conference members Blackburn College, Eureka College, Fontbonne University, Iowa Wesleyan University, MacMurray College, Spalding University, and Westminster College as the eight teams will play three rounds over two days at Weaver Ridge Golf Course in Peoria, Ill.

Blackburn College BEAVERS

Head Coach: Seth Shultz

SLIAC Titles: 2

Last Year's Finish: 3rd

Blackburn has been steady this season with five top-five finishes at events including a 2nd place finish at the MacMurray Invitational, a field that included two other SLIAC teams. Anthony Harper leads the Beavers with a 77.3 average and three top-five finishes this season. He has a low round of 72 and is just one of two Beavers this season to card under an 80 on a round. Matt Kinsella is the other Beaver to achieve that (77) and holds an 84.0 average. Thomas White will be in the third hole for Blackburn in the pairings and has an 89.7 average while Jake Crews and Isaac Garrett complete their lineup.

Eureka College RED DEVILS

Head Coach: Chip Wilde

SLIAC Titles: 0

Last Year's Finish: 7th

Eureka serves as the host of the 2019 SLIAC Tournament and come in averaging 10 fewer strokes per round than last year's team. The Red Devils lineup will consist of Evan Smith, Ethan Gates, Alex Furniss, Drew Barth, and Ryan Barth. Smith and Gates are tied for the team lead with a 90.0 average this season while Furniss is just behind with a 93.0 average. They carded a 371 on the same course this past fall.

Fontbonne University GRIFFINS

Head Coach: Lance Thornhill

SLIAC Titles: 5

Last Year's Finish: 4th

Fontbonne has had an up-and down season that has seen them record three top-three finishes at tournaments but also three finishes among the second-half of the field. Most recently they played in the Rhodes Classic, shooting 309.3 per round as a team. Cory Harrison has a team best 77.8 average while Will Pruden, who will lead the Griffins off in the SLIAC Tournament, carries a 78.2 average. Both players have four top-20 finishes this year. Sam Kaminski (80.4), Carson King (81.8), and Paul Henderson (78.1) complete the Griffins lineup. Matt Rapisardo will also be in the tournament field as an individual.

Iowa Wesleyan University TIGERS

Head Coach: Kurt Moon

SLIAC Titles: 0

Last Year's Finish: 2nd

The Tigers have had an active season, playing a conference leading 11 competitions. They are coming off a 3rd place finish at the IW Tiger Classic and have seven top-five finishes this season. Jaime Suarez will be looking to become the 3rd player in program history to walk away with the SLIAC individual title as he brings in a 75.5 average this season with eight top-five finishes among his 10 events. Blake Forsythe holds an 82.8 average while Jeff Cox carries a 82.8 average this season. Camron Mack (89.1) and Austin Willis (100.7) wrap up the Tigers tournament lineup.

MacMurray College HIGHLANDERS

Head Coach: Wade Mathis

SLIAC Titles: 2

Last Year's Finish: 5th

MacMurray has played in six events this season, although just one has consisted of multiple rounds. The Highlanders top four players have had consistent averages this season, ranging between 84.4 strokes and 85.0 strokes per round. Cody Curry will lead it off for the Highlanders and be followed by Keegan Potter, Corbin Tullis, Drew Burwinkel, and Cooper Mixer. Curry leads the team with three top-20 finishes this season and a low round of 76.

Spalding University GOLDEN EAGLES

Head Coach: Skip Welch

SLIAC Titles: 3

Last Year's Finish: No Team Score

For the second straight year Spalding will be competing short handed at the SLIAC Tournament. Kendall Hale has a team low 78.9 average with one top five finish and three top-20 finishes. Jack Michels is second with an 81.3 average while Hayden Hope holds an 85.5 average. The Golden Eagles have competed in four events this season and have placed an individual in the top ten of the tournament in every year since joining the SLIAC.

Webster University GORLOKS

Head Coach: Andrew Belsky

SLIAC Titles: 8

Last Year's Finish: 1st

The Gorloks look primed to defend their conference title as they are coming off a record-setting round of 283 at the Rhodes Classic. It marked the first time in program history the team has show below par. The Gorloks have five top five finishes this season including two tournament wins. Will Hocker, the 2018 SLIAC individual champion, will look to become the first repeat winner since Maryville's Nick Profancik won three straight titles from 2000-09. Hocker is averaging 74.4 strokes per round this season with a low round of 69 and six top-20 finishes. Cole Pickett (76.7) and Michael Vetter (75.1) will tee off in the second and third spots for the Gorloks. Will Murphy (78.4) and Zac Ciesla (74.4) round out the Gorloks lineup with Will Lorenz competing individually.

Westminster College BLUE JAYS

Head Coach: Tom O'Donnell

SLIAC Titles: 1

Last Year's Finish: 6th

This will mark the Blue Jays fourth competition this month and they come in on a high after a 3rd place finish in the IW Tiger Classic. The Blue Jays shot a season low 323 in the event with Kurt Matheney capturing the individual title with a career best 74 round. It marked the first time a Blue Jay has won an individual title at an event since at least 2012. Matheney has three top five finishes this year and carries a 79.4 stroke average into the SLIAC Tournament. Zane West-Darby is second on the team with an 80.4 average this season while Aubrey Nelson is third on the team with an 84.5 average. Mikie Ryback and Corey Schmidt will round out the Blue Jays lineup.

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