LINCOLN, Neb. — Travis Tilford saved his best for home.
The Nebraska Wesleyan men's golf team swept both team titles and claimed the individual championship Monday and Tuesday at the Howl at the Hill Invitational, hosted at Lincoln's historic Hillcrest Country Club. The Prairie Wolves closed the regular season in commanding fashion against a nine-team field, with the "A" squad carding a 294-298—592 to take first and the B team posting a 319-310—629 to claim sixth.
Tilford, a junior from Firth, Neb., led the way individually, carding rounds of 73 and 72 to finish at plus-1 and claim medalist honors. Designed in 1929, Hillcrest has long served as a stage for elite competition, its storied grounds once hosted a memorable match featuring Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The pro-level layout made Tillford's two-round performance all the more impressive.
Senior Brayden Schram of Hastings, Neb., continued a strong stretch of late-season golf, finishing tied for second at plus-2. It marked Schram's second consecutive top-three in collegiate competition, following a share of first place at last week's Glen Oaks Collegiate.
Jackson Lapour of Omaha, Neb., placed ninth at plus-6, with his opening-round plus-1 tying for the lowest single-round score among all Prairie Wolf competitors at Hillcrest on Monday. Junior Harrison Weddell of Omaha, Neb., finished 10th at plus-7 to pace the B squad.
Rounding out the scoring for the "A" squad, sophomore Jaiden Ronke tied for 11th at plus-8, and sophomore Jacob Cosimano finished tied for 16th at plus-10.
PRAIRIE WOLF LEADERBOARD
1) Travis Tilford: 73-72=145
T-2) Brayden Schram: 74-72=146
9) Jackson Lapour: 73-77=150
10) Harrison Weddell (B): 77-74=151
T-11) Jaiden Ronke: 74-78=152
T-16) Jacob Cosimano: 77-77=154
23) Matias Casal (B) : 78-79=157
T-28) Jakob Cadwallader (B): 79-80=159
T-38) Reid Styskal (B): 85-78=163
41) Collin Howell (B): 86-79=165
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1) Nebraska Wesleyan: 294-298=592
2) Iowa Western CC: 296-302=598
3) Doane University: 315-299=614
T-4) Iowa Western CC (B): 316-302=619
T-4) University of Northwestern (MN): 318-300=618
6) Nebraska Wesleyan (B): 319-310=629
7) Simpson College: 323-314=637
8) Concordia University (MN): 328-313=641
9) Union Adventist University: 364-366=730
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan turns its attention to the American Rivers Conference Championship, set for April 26-28 at Glen Oaks Country Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
