'Birdie King' Hinton Earns Co-Medalist Honors at Rain-Shortened Nye Intercollegiate; Scots Place Second

WOOSTER, Ohio - Jimmy Hinton earned the "Birdie King" crown on Saturday with red numbers of five of his first eight holes, and The College of Wooster sophomore shot an even-par 72 to finish as co-medalist at the rain-shortened Nye Intercollegiate hosted by the Fighting Scots at the par-72, 6545-yard Wooster Country Club over the weekend. Wooster turned in a strong 301 to finish second in the 10-team field.

Hinton's round was rolling from the get-go as the sophomore birdied the par-5, 491-yard first hole, and he really picked up steam late on the front nine with birdies on holes six, seven, and eight. In fact, Hinton birdied both of the par-5 holes on the front nine, and the sophomore made the turn with a 3-under-par 33. Hinton was still at 3-under-par through 12 holes, and his card didn't have anything worse than a bogey on it for the round.

Hinton's score was one of four in the 70s for Wooster during for Saturday's round, as the Scots collectively turned in their second-lowest round of the year. The Scots were in contention to be the clubhouse leader-turned-tournament winner after inclement weather forced the cancelation of Sunday's round, but co-medalist Mikel Merker chipped in for birdie on the par-4, 410-yard 18th hole while playing in Saturday's last pairing to give Mount Saint Joseph University a one-stroke edge over Wooster.

First-year Colin O'Hern backed Hinton up with a 2-over-par 74 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth-place. O'Hern's round also got off to a roaring start with a birdie on hole one. O'Hern was at 2-under-par through four holes thanks to a birdie on the par-4, 400-yard No. 4, and he made the turn at 1-under-par. Likewise to Hinton, O'Hern pared the first three holes on the back nine.

Sophomore Evan Ferrara tied for 10th-place with a 76. Ferrara was at even par through 11 holes thanks to a birdie on the par-4, 441-yard No. 5. For the round, Ferrara logged 13 pars.

Junior Ric Reynolds rounded out the scorers with a 79 and tied for 23rd-place. Reynold's round was headlined with birdies on both of the 500-plus yard holes.

Senior Brenden Tully shot an 83 and tied for 42nd-place. The Scots' five man pared nine holes in the round.

First-year David Roney led the way among the Scots playing on the "B" team. Roney's 77 placed the rookie in a tie for 15th-place.

Next, Wooster is slated to compete at the Defiance College Spring Invitational held at Eagle Rock Golf Club April 21-22.