LIMA, Ohio – The College of Wooster men's golf team tied for fifth-place at its spring opener, which took place the past two days at the Polar Beaver Classic, co-hosted by Ohio Northern University and Bluffton University. Wooster's 299 on Saturday at the par-71, 6,567-yard Hidden Creek Golf Club marked a 10-stroke bounce back from Friday's 309 at the par-72, 6,886-yard Colonial Golfers Club.
Senior Tyler Hilbert's 2-over-par 73 at Hidden Creek was tied for the team's low round of the weekend. The senior climbed up to a tie for 13th-place at 149. Hilbert's leaderboard ascension started at the par-4, 400-yard fourth hole on Saturday, where he carded birdie four for the tournament. An immediate fifth birdie came on the par-4, 390-yard fifth hole before Hilbert proceeded to card par on the next six holes as part of a stretch of 10 pars in 11 holes.
Sophomore Gabe Guthrie was next, with the 152 ranking tied for 21st-place. Guthrie matched Hilbert with a 73 at Hidden Creek, thanks to a strong closing run, which saw the sophomore fire a 1-under-par 35 on the back nine. Guthrie's two closing birdies came at the par-5, 530-yard 16th hole and the par-3, 199-yard closing hole. Guthrie's Saturday round started with pars on five of the first six holes, and overall, the sophomore had a six-stroke bounce back from Friday's 79 at Colonial.
Sophomore Mark Towns tied for 27th-place after signing for a 76 and 77. Towns was a par machine on Friday logging 14 in a 15-hole stretch, with the lone blemish coming on hole 10. The steadiness carried over to Saturday, with Towns shooting 1-under-par through the opening four holes.
Junior Krish Nayak went 79-76 for a 155 to tie for 35th-place. Nayak went 2-under-par spanning holes eight through 13 at Hidden Creek, with three birdies during that stretch. The first came on the par-5, 515-yard eighth hole, and he also had the circle on card for the challenging par-5, 490-yard 10th hole.
Senior Jacob Ullom's 155 rounded out the lineup and that placed him in a tie for 35th-place. Ullom opened with a 78 and closed with a 77. He had three birdies on the weekend and strung together a six-hole run of pars centered around the turn at Hidden Creek.
Wooster also entered a "B team" in the field. First-year Andrew Carey's 19th-place score of 151 led that quintet. Carey played 27 of the 36 holes at par or better.
Spalding University (Kentucky) led the 11-team field with a 3-over-par 575. The Golden Eagles' Nolan Keeler was the medalist with a 4-under-par 139. Wooster finished tied with Ohio Northern at 608.
Next, Wooster hosts the Nye Intercollegiate at Wooster Country Club April 13-14. Tee times begin at noon both days.