Marshall Finishes Fourth in MAC Golf Championship

5/8/2000

Westerville, Ohio - Kent State's Ben Curtis swept the field, taking medalist honors, MAC Golfer of the Year and earning the MAC Sportsmanship Award as voted by the 50 competing golfers at the 2000 Mid-American Conference Golf Championship, Saturday.

Curtis won medalist honors with a tournament-record 274 (66-69-69-70). John Mills carded a final round-low 67 to finish right behind Curtis (72-71-67-67: 277) and help the Golden Flashes to the team title with a score of 1125 (-27). Kent State has now won four consecutive league titles and 12 overall.

The Thundering Herd shot rounds of 282, 298, 292 and 291 to finish in fourth place at the Mid-American Conference Golf Championship with a three-day total of 1163 (+11).

Marshall received a strong effort from seniors Jimmy McKenzie and A.J. Riley. McKenzie, a native of Ashland, Ky., completed his collegiate career with a season-best 11th place finish, recording an even-par 288 during the three day event. Riley, a native of Russell, Ky., finished 14th overall with a 290.

Fellow senior, Sam O'Dell finished his stellar career at Marshall with a disapointing four-round total of 296, tying teammate Jason Witczak for 19th place. The Hurricane, W.Va., finished his career in a tie with former Marshall greats Harold Payne and Johnathan Clark as the school's all-time career stroke average leaders (75.4). In addition to this, O'Dell was selected second-team All-MAC by the league's coaches for the second consecutive season.

Marshall's Final Totals

(4th)  Marshall University            282 298 292  291   1163
11   Jimmy McKenzie                    70  74  74   70    288
14   A.J. Riley                        68  76  72   74    290
T 19   Sam O'Dell                      72  77  72   75    296
T 19   Jason Witczak                   76  72  76   72    296
T 21   Aaron Williams                  72  76  74   75    297

Mid-American Conf. Golf Championship
Medallion Club, Westerville, OH
Tournament Dates: 05/03 - 05/06

Par:        72
Yardage:  6802

Fin Team                        Scores
1 Kent                          282  283  279  281      1125    -27
2 Toledo, U. of                 286  286  293  274      1139    -13
3 Miami of Ohio                 285  288  278  292      1143    -9
4 Marshall University           282  298  292  291      1163      +11
5 Eastern Michigan U.           294  291  293  296      1174      +22
6 Bowling Green State           293  289  299  301      1182      +30
7 Ball State Univ.              297  303  296  289      1185      +33
8 Ohio University               292  296  300  303      1191      +39
  Northern Illinois U.          292  309  295  295      1191      +39
10 Akron, U. of                 313  308  299  302      1222      +70