FINAL RESULTS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ohio – The redemption tour was completed Sunday afternoon for the Otterbein Men's Golf program, which returned to the scene (River Greens) of last year's crime and recaptured the Ohio Athletic Conference crown.

THE STAGE:
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The Cardinals watched their previous run of six-straight OAC titles snapped last year after relinquishing a lead to John Carroll on the final day... with the Blue Streaks stealing the show by two strokes. Otterbein wouldn't allow that to happen this time around, using a consistent and rather dominant effort to finish 25 shots clear in a wire-to-wire performance.

THE AFTERMATH:
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As a result, the Cards have now won 20 of the last 25 OAC trophies and snag yet another automatic bid to compete in the upcoming NCAA Championships. The national event will take place May 16-19 at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, Ky.

THE PLOT:
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Otterbein methodically ballooned its lead over cross-town rival (and runner-up) Capital with each passing day, as the Comets eventually settled 13 shots ahead of Mount Union in third place.

The 72-hole tournament, played in a 27-27-18 format across three days, saw the Cards lead by six shots after the first round, 14 after the second full round and 18 entering Championship Sunday. Otterbein was +15 as a collective team.

THE ACTORS:
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• Junior Ian Johnston (T-1) experienced a wild tournament that saw a little bit of everything, carrying a four-shot lead into Sunday before a pair of opponents in Cam Henry (Muskingum) and Angelo Donato (Capital) came charging down the stretch. Donato chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole to force a three-man playoff for medalist honors. Henry was eliminated first and Johnston/Donato went to a fourth hole before Donato birdied to win.
   
• Johnston went 73-71-71-74 over the tournament, including a hectic opening 27 holes that saw 10 birdies, seven bogeys and a double. He was three under through 14 holes in his second round, and then made 17 pars during his third round.
   
• Rising freshman Carter Woodward, on a tear the past month, continued turning heads by taking fifth alone for his first All-OAC honor. The lefty carded a pair of 69's across the tournament, making five birdies during each of those trips.
   
• True senior Sam Lahmon, a program veteran, tied for eighth alongside teammate Colin Bibler. Lahmon registered his second OAC Top 10 after taking third last year. He fired a one-under par (71) in the third round this time and played his last 11 holes of the tournament in red numbers. 
   
• Bibler earned the fifth/final spot in the lineup after winning a recent team qualifier, and certainly showed why as he delivered consistent showings of 73-73-73 before grinding through a final-round 76. He played his last 11 holes of the second round in two-under par.
   
• Fifth-year veteran Coury Rogers, a former medalist, worked through a roller-coaster weekend to still finish 21st in the field. He responded from a tough opening round to go 76-74-76 the rest of the way, including a steady third round that featured 14 pars.

COACH BOOHER COMMENTS:
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"First and foremost, I'm really happy for Sam Lahmon. That's his first conference title in the lineup and I know it was very important to him. It was also a lot of fun seeing freshmen provide numbers. That shows there will be a strength moving forward." – On the team effort

"I think most people had Ian and Angelo as favorites coming in, so it was fitting to end (the way it did) with a great four-hole playoff. Angelo earned it with a birdie. But in no way am I surprised at Ian's performance… he's been a leader for us all season." – On Ian Johnston and the playoff

"The message is always the same… Get there, get comfortable, learn the course and try to make a run." – On the upcoming NCAA's
 
I'VE GOT THE MONTH OF MAY:
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Otterbein will be looking to improve on its 26th-place finish the last time it visited Keene Trace for nationals, coming back in the spring of 2019. Stay tuned for more coverage and full NCAA preview in the coming weeks!|