Brescia University made it back-to-back conference titles by claiming the 2019 River States Conference Men’s Golf Championship on Tuesday at Belterra Golf Course in Florence, Ind.
The Bearcats went wire to wire in first place to best the field of 11 schools and register their second RSC banner in a row.
Brescia was in first place after the 36 holes played in the first two rounds on Monday. The Bearcats finished off the title with a score of 308 in the final round Tuesday to win by five shots over Asbury University. The Eagles made a charge with a 301 over the final 18 holes, but it was not enough to overcome Brescia’s nine-shot lead heading into the final day.
Brescia advances as the RSC’s automatic team qualifier to the NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship to be held May 21-24 at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz.
Brescia opened the tournament with a team score of 306 and built its lead with the best round (300) of the tournament in round two. Brescia head coach Jason Cox was named RSC Coach of the Year after leading the Bearcats back to NAIAs. Trevor Brown (74-75-72) took individual runner-up honors for the Bearcats.
Joining Brown on the All-RSC First Team was teammate Steven Zehr, who placed 10th in the championship and was also named the RSC Men’s Golf Newcomer of the Year. The Bearcats had a third player earn all-conference honors with Daniel Steele on the All-RSC Second Team.
All-RSC honors were determined by the lowest four rounds combined from the RSC Men’s Golf Fall Preview and the RSC Championship in the spring. Players needed to participate in both events to be eligible.
Also named was the RSC Men’s Golf Champions of Character Team, which identified one player from each school who best embodies the five character values of NAIA Champions of Character, which are respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Chance England was named to the Character Team for Brescia.
