Silvis, Ill. – The Friends University Falcons came home with a runner-up finish at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship Friday (May 15) at the TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., the highest national result on record in university history.
Trailing by 17 strokes in the third round, the Falcons made a move on the back nine to shave the deficit to three strokes before winding up six strokes down heading into yesterday's final round.
After then finding themselves in a sizable 11-hole deficit, the Falcons (+35) once again battled back and came within just one stroke on the 18th hole before falling just two strokes shy of National Champion Oklahoma City University (+33).
The Falcons made things interesting behind a tourney-leading +9 during yesterday's fourth round of action.
Under head coach Dustin Galyon, Friends found itself in sixth place at the conclusion of the first round, but Bernhard Koster shot a second-round tying best -2 to bring the Falcons all the way up to the second spot.
Koster (+6) finished tied for seventh individually to earn NAIA All-Tournament honors. Gabriele Romani and Trinton Nobles were each tied for 17th at +10, with Romani shooting a team-best (+1) in the final round.
Laken Matthews and Jenson Boyce each shot +16 to come in tied for 36th. Matthews caught fire yesterday with four straight birdies on holes 10-14, while Boyce led the entire field for much of the first day.
