By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 18-ranked Washburn University men's golf team posted a second-place team finish out of 10 conference teams in the MIAA Championships, which concluded Tuesday at the Shangri-La Golf Course and Resort in Monkey Island, Okla.
Washburn went 20-over par for a final three-round score of 884, finishing 10 strokes behind MIAA champion Central Missouri.
The Ichabods have finished the MIAA Championships as high as second place multiple times, with the last time before Tuesday coming in the 2016-17 season.
Washburn’s Griffin Mott finished second among the 50 participants, going 2-over-par for the event.
Griffin Mott finished second individually in the MIAA Championships, helping lead Washburn to a second-place team finish. [Photo courtesty of Washburn Athletics]
Mott, a former Blue Valley standout, shot a 76 in Tuesday's third round to finish with a 54-hole total of 218.
Andrew Beckler and Jackson Wexler tied for third place with three others players at 3-over par.
Beckler shot a 73 in his third round and Wexler a 72 to finish at 219.
Dawson Wills ended the tournament in a tie for 15th place with a 15-over par score of 231.
Michael Bessenbacher tied for 21st at 17 over par.
The Ichabods are currently ranked fourth in the central region. NCAA Division II will announce the selections for the 2021 regional tournament on NCAA.com on Friday.
Tuesday’s conference title is an MIAA-record 23rd for Central Missouri and the first since 2015.
Central Missouri, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Central regional rankings, earned an automatic qualification for the NCAA Regional, which will be played May 6-8 at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City, Mo.
Individual champion Luke Palmowski of Rogers State led the Hillcats to a third-place team finish.
Palmowski shot a 65 in the second round of the tournament, which set a school record. He finished with a 5-under- par 211 (71-65-75), seven strokes better than Mott.
The All-MIAA teams, coach of the year, player of the year and freshman of the year will be announced later this week.
