Brescia (Ky.) wins 2018 RSC Men's Golf Championship, Asbury (Ky.) runner-up

4/25/2018 12:00:00 AM

UNION, Ky. -- Brescia (Ky.) University made a big move in the final 36 holes and won the 2018 River States Conference Men's Golf Championship, which was held Monday and Tuesday at Lassing Pointe Golf Course in Union, Ky. The Bearcats won the conference for the second time in three years.

Brescia won by 12 shots over runner-up Asbury (Ky.) University. Both of those top two finishers qualify for the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship with the RSC's two automatic bids. The national tournament will be held May 15-18 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Cincinnati Christian University's Austin Taylor won the RSC individual medalist title in a playoff over Midway (Ky.) University's Austin Mitchell. Taylor had a very-strong score of 69 in the second round on his way to the title. He advances to the NAIA national tournament as the RSC's individual qualifier. Mitchell got into the playoff with a 74 in the final round.

Brescia shot up the leaderboard and took over first place after a score of 311 in the second round. The Bearcats were in seventh place after shooting 321 in the first round. There were a total of 27 holes played on both Monday and Tuesday, meaning the second round spanned both days. With 18 holes remaining, Brescia had a one-shot lead over IU Kokomo, a two-shot lead over WVU Tech and Midway and an eight-shot lead over Asbury.

The Bearcats clinched the title by putting together the best round of any team in the tournament, a final-round 306 to win by 12 shots. Asbury shot a 310 to secure the conference's second bid to nationals with what was the second-best round of the tournament. The Eagles shot 320 in each of the first two rounds.

WVU Tech and Midway both shot 323 in the final round to finish in a tie for third place. IU Kokomo finished one shot back in fifth place after a 325 to close.

IU East placed sixth followed by Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College in seventh and Point Park (Pa.) University and Cincinnati Christian University tied for eighth. Ohio Christian University, University of Rio Grande (Ohio) and Carlow (Pa.) University rounded out the field of 12 teams.

Brescia put three players in the Top 10 on its way to the team title. Trevor Brown finished third with a 1-over 72 in the final round. Daniel Steele tied for fifth, and Chance England was ninth.

Asbury's Matthew McCurry placed fourth individually and claimed RSC Men's Golfer of the Year honors. That award is given to the player who has the best scores combined between the RSC fall preview and the spring championship. He led the Eagles to the national tournament with a 75 in the final round.

Midway's Cody French was named the RSC Men's Golf Newcomer of the Year. WVU Tech coach Garrett Goosman, the RSC men's golf coaches' committee chair, was named the RSC Men's Golf Coach of the Year.

The All-RSC Men's Golf First and Second Teams were named with five players each. The players with the best scores from the fall and spring made the cut. Also named was the RSC Men's Golf Champions of Character Team, which named one player from each team who best exhibits the five character values of NAIA Champions of Character, which are respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.

Below are the All-RSC teams and awards. Click the results link above for the complete team and individual results on Golfstat.

2018 ALL-RSC MEN'S GOLF TEAMS & AWARDS

RSC Men's Golfer of the Year:

Matthew McCurry – Asbury

RSC Individual Medalist:

Austin Taylor – Cincinnati Christian

RSC Coach of the Year:

Garrett Goosman – WVU Tech

RSC Newcomer of the Year:

Cody French - Midway

ALL-RSC MEN'S GOLF FIRST TEAM

Matthew McCurry -- Asbury
Tyler Pearson -- IU East
Austin Mitchell -- Midway
Austin Taylor -- Cincinnati Christian
Daniel Steele -- Brescia

ALL-RSC MEN'S GOLF SECOND TEAM

Trevor Brown -- Brescia
Max Kaminsky -- Point Park
Kieran Samarakoon -- WVU Tech
Cody French -- Midway
Taylor Fletcher -- IU Kokomo

RSC MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM

Isaiah Penley – Alice Lloyd
Ben Campbell – Asbury
Daniel Steele – Brescia
Ryan Bradigan-Barnett – Carlow
Jon Burrows – Cincinnati Christian
Tyler Pearson – IU East
Seth Grimme – IU Kokomo
Josh Koester – Midway
DJ Graham – Ohio Christian
Nick Finoli – Point Park
Jerod Lemaster – Rio Grande
Kieren Samarakoon – WVU Tech