TEAM SCORES
1. Illinois Wesleyan 304-289 = 593
(The 289 is single-day CCIW tournament record and
the 593 total ties CCIW two-day record.)
2. Augustana 313-303 = 616
T3. Carthage 317-313 = 630
T3. Wheaton 316-314 = 630
5. Millikin 313-319 = 632
6. North Central 329-329 = 658
T7. North Park 335-329 = 664
T7. Elmhurst 339-325 = 664
IWU INDIVIDUAL SCORES
1. Chad Golembeck 68-68 = 136 (establishes new tournament
record)
2. Bryan Noonan 73-74 = 147
T7. Billy Smith 80-74 = 154
T18. Kevin Ollom 88-73 = 161
T25. Matt Grandone 83-81 = 164
Worst to first: IWU golfers win CCIW title
by The Pantagraph staff
PONTIAC -- Illinois Wesleyan didn't just go from worst
to first.
The young Titan golfers, five freshmen led by Chad
Golembeck, put on a record-shattering performance in running away with
their first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Golf Tournament
title since 1977.
Golembeck fired his second straight 4-under-par 68 Saturday
at Pontiac Elks Country Club for a 136 total to win medalist honors by
11 strokes ahead of teammate Bryan Noonan. Golembeck's 136 total
was two strokes better than the previous tournament record shared by Lake
Forest's Ty Porter (1962) and Augustana's Bill Lee (1964).
He is the first IWU player to be medalist since Dan
Stoerzbach for the 1977 championship team.
The Titans, who finished last by 30 strokes a year ago,
fired a 1-over-par 289 Saturday for a two-day 593 total to beat runner-up
Augustana by 23 strokes. IWU set a tourney single-day record and tied the
tourney record of 593 set by Millikin in 1988.
"It's unbelievable. I think 306 is our previous best
this year," said second-year IWU coach Jim Ott. "All the tension and pressure
was out there when they teed off, but for five freshmen their poise and
composure was just unbelievable. For five freshmen to go and win the CCIW
as convincing as they did is extraordinary."
IWU's Kevin Ollom recovered from a first-round
88 to shoot 73 Saturday. IWU also counted Noonan (74) and Billy Smith
(74), who tied for seventh at 154.
IWU's non-counting fifth golfer, Matt Grandone,
shot 81 Saturday and would have counted for every other team except
Augustana.
"When he (Ollom) came in with 73, I knew we were on our
way," said Ott.
Golembeck made four birdies and an eagle Saturday. On
Friday, he had seven birdies. According to Ott, Golembeck could be in line
for an individual selection to the Division III NCAA Tournament.
The CCIW champion does not get an automatic bid. Selections
are based on a season-long performance basis. Ott said Augustana has a
chance to earn a team berth.