WSU Golf wins 7th straight MVC title

[ShoxNAwe]

SILVIS, Ill.- The Wichita State men’s golf team won its seventh-consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Tuesday at TPC Deere Run, carding a 54-hole score of 874 (291-299-284) to best runner-up Illinois State by three shots.

Overall, it is Wichita State’s 19th MVC title.

Chandler Rusk won captured first place individually, defeating Tyler Genttilella on the third playoff hole. Rusk shot a 215 (70-75-70) over the 54-hole tournament.

Every Shocker landed in the top-20, as Louis Cohen Boyer finished in fourth place with a 218 (75-75-68), Alec Heinen finished in a tie for fifth with a 221 (73-74-74), Grant Bennett carded a 224 (77-75-72) to finish in a tie for 10th and Calvin Pearson shot a 228 (73-76-79) to finish in a tie for 20th.

Rusk, Boyer and Heinen were each named to the MVC All-Conference Team with Boyer being named the MVC Golfer of the Year. It is the third consecutive year the Shockers have taken home the Golfer of the Year award and sixth time overall. The conference started giving out the honor in 2007.

Bennett was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year and Heinen captured the league’s Elite 18 award.

Additionally, for the 12th time in his career and seventh-straight year, head coach Grier Jones was named MVC Coach of the Year.

With the MVC title, Wichita State will now head to the NCAA Regionals for a chance to compete in the NCAA Championships, which will be hosted by Wichita State at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., May 23-28.

The 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships selections will be announced live via the Golf Channel Monday, May 5 from 10 to 11 a.m., Eastern time, during Morning Drive.