Strong Final Rounds Guide Imel, Team to Second Place Finishes

Sunday, March 13

Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Mission Inn Spring Fling Intercollegiate

Sophomore Drew Imel wrapped an outstanding opening weekend with a 2nd place finish

Strong Final Rounds Guide Imel, Team to Second Place Finishes

3/13/2011 10:27:00 PM | Men's Golf

FINAL RESULTS (.htm)

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - Drew Imel fired a two-under 70 and climbed eight spots to finish in second place and lead his team to a second place finish at the Mission Inn Spring Fling at the Mission Inn Resort in Orlando.

As a team, the Mastodons continued to drop their team score, posting a final-round 291 to wrap the three-round tournament just three strokes short of capturing the overall tournament title. Their third-round 291 Sunday was an astounding three-over as a team.

Imel's final round 70 came within a stroke of his IPFW career-best as the sophomore posted the first runner-up showing of his young career. Imel tallied an opening round 76 before yesterday's even-par 72 moved the Bluffton, Ind. native into 10th place. Today's two-under 70 saw Imel climb eight strokes in the runner-up position. Finishing at two-over (218) for the tournament, Imel bettered his career-best tournament by three strokes.

Tomaz Pinheiro was the next Mastodon on the leaderboard as he too posted a new tournament-best tally at 7 on the weekend, landing inside the top ten in a tie for eighth place. Pinheiro carded rounds of 75 and 76 before today's even-par 72 vaulted the Belo Horizonte, Brazil native 12 spots in final round action.

Ryan Olbin battled back after an opening-round 81 to post back-to-back rounds of 73. The senior made his steady climb into the top-20, finishing in 16th place overall. Bruno Carvalho checked in fourth in the IPFW lineup and fell just outside out the top-20, as he wrapped up a consistent weekend in tie for 21st place. The sophomore posted rounds of 77-76-76 to complete a 13 (229) tournament.

Curtis Coverstone checked in with a tie for 28th place overall after a final-round 81. The sophomore, who fired a career-best 72 in the opening round, struggled to regain his top form through the opening weekend of the 2011 Spring, finishing at 15 (231) overall.

The Stetson Hatters captured the overall team title at 21 for the weekend, three strokes ahead of the Mastodons at 885 total swings. They were led by individual medalist Sam Ryder, who posted a four-under 212 in the three-round event to take the crown by six strokes.

IPFW finished second overall and were trailed by Appalachian State, Lehigh and Western Kentucky in the top five.

But the Mastodon starting lineup wasn't the only group of golfers in top gear on Sunday. Had those competing as individuals scored as a team, their nine-over 297 would have been the fourth-best total by any of the competing 12 squads.

The freshman class of Mitch Bellam and Patrick Kundenreich each posted great Sunday rounds to finish in a tie with another for 41st place. Bellam fired an even-par 72, setting a new collegiate best mark, while Kundenreich shot a three-over 75 to finish at 19 for the tournament.

John McMillen and Adam Turney each shot final round 75's as they finished in 55th and T58th place, respectively. Jacob Bailey posted a 79 in final round action to close out the tournament in 70th place.

The 'Dons will look to continue their hot streak next week as they travel to Williamsburg, Va. for the C&F Bank Intercollegiate at Kings Mill Resort.

IPFW
2 - Imel (76-72-70) 2
T8 - Pinheiro (75-76-72) 7
16 - Olbin (81-73-73) 11
T21 - Carvalho (77-76-76) 13
T28 - Coverstone (72-78-81) 15

T41 - Bellam (80-83-72) 19
T41 - Kundenreich (81-79-75) 19
55 - McMillen (84-79-75) 22
T58 - Turney (84-79-75) 24
70 - Bailey (96-79-79) 38
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~Dons~