Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's golf team shot a 54-hole total of 883, one of the lowest such scores in school history, at the 2018 MIAA Championships Wednesday in Spring Hill, Kan.

The three-day, 11-team event was held at the par 72 Sycamore Ridge golf course.

The Lopers had rounds of 297, 289 and 297 to trail only No. 42 Lindenwood (866) and No. 26 Central Missouri (879). UNK came in ahead of, among others, No. 34 Central Oklahoma (887).

This was UNK's last scheduled tournament. By playing well in its final two events the Lopers hope to make the NCAA Central/Midwest Super Regional May 7-9 in Ohio. The NCAA field will be announced Friday afternoon.

In men's golf, the MIAA team and individual champions are decided by four tournaments during the year (two in the spring and two in the fall). Teams and players receive points on how they finish in each tourney. Overall, UNK tallied 32.0 points to place sixth. Lindenwood was the team champion (47.0 points) and LWU's Yente Van Doren (41.0 points) the top individual. 

At Spring Hill, Hebron junior Jay Cottam tied his 54-hole low score with a 2-under 214. He had rounds of 73, 68 and 73 to place third behind LWU's Markus Lindgren (4-under 212) and Van Doren (3-under 211). Cottam managed 35 pars, nine birdies and one eagle in the tournament. He also had a 214 at the 2016 UNK Fall Invite at Awarii Dunes.

For the 2017-18 year, Cottam has a 73.39 stroke average over 23 rounds. Greg Davis set the UNK single season record with a 73.36 (25 rounds) during 2003-04. If the Lopers aren't selected, he could make regionals as an individual. Finally, Cottam's strong finish makes him All-MIAA for a second straight year. 

Also for UNK, English senior Bradley Hill tied for sixth (3-over 219; 72-72-75), Kearney sophomore Cody Troudt tied for 12th (220; 76-71-73), Bancroft senior Preston Peters came in 41st (232; 76-78-78) and Kearney freshman Austin Murray was 48th (235; 78-81-76).

Troudt had a team-high 37 pars, Hill led in birdies (10) and Cottam was even on par 3 holes. Finally, Hill (75.30) and Troudt (75.39) also have two of the lowest single season stroke averages in Loper lore. 


2017-18 MIAA Final Team Standings

1. Lindenwood (MIAA Champion)	47
2. Central Missouri	45
3. Central Oklahoma	44
4. Washburn	42
5. Missouri Western State	36.5
6. Nebraska Kearney	32
7. Northeastern State	20
8. Fort Hays State	20
9. Missouri Southern State	19
10. Southwest Baptist	17.5
11. Lincoln	7

 2017-18 MIAA Final Individual Standings/All-MIAA

1. Yente Van Doren, Lindenwood	41
2. Shayne Allan, Central Missouri	38.5
3. Blake Allen, Washburn	32.5
4. Patrick McCarthy, Mo. West	28
5. Markus Lindgren, Lindenwood	27
6. Jared Burns, Washburn	24
7. Wesley Jackson, UCO	23.5
8. Tristan Haltom, Mo Southern	22.5
9. Eli Armstrong, UCO	20
10. Jay Cottam, Nebraska Kearney	18
11. John Bonaobra, Central Missouri	16
Kevin Kim, Mo. West	16

Additional All-MIAA Selections
Nick Pierce, Central Oklahoma
Alexander Hughes, Central Oklahoma
Skyler Tebo, Fort Hays State
Colton Massey, Washburn

Player of the Year: Van Doren
Freshman of the Year: LWU's Markus Lindgren
Coach of the Year: LWU's Derek Schaub