Northwestern College shot a final round 289 to win its fourth consecutive GPAC Men’s Golf Championship and Justin Kraft captured his second individual conference title today at the Woodland Hills Golf Club in Eagle, Neb. By winning the conference title, the Red Raiders qualify for the 67th NAIA Men’s Golf Championships on May 15-18, 2018, in Silvis, Ill. at TPC Deere Run.
Owning a one shot lead heading into today’s final round, the Red Raiders turned in the low score of the day, shooting a five-over 289, to win the championship by nine strokes over second place Morningside. Northwestern shot a 72-hole score of 1,152 and finished +16 over in the four-round championship. Head Coach Aaron Aberson’s squad recorded the low round or tied for the low round each of the final two days.
The Mustangs closed the championship with a 297, tying Doane and Dakota Wesleyan for the second lowest score on Tuesday, and tallied a 72-hole score of 1,161. Doane placed third (1174) followed by Midland (1183) and Concordia (1202).
Kraft, who also won the individual conference title as a freshman in 2015, shot an even-par 71 for the second straight day to win the title by four shots over Cody Holck (Morningside). Kraft came into the final round tied with his teammate Evan Schuler for second place, one stroke in back of Holck. The senior finished the championship as the only golfer under par, carding a 72-hole score of 282 (-2) (68/72/71/71), and recorded his fourth straight top five finish at the conference meet.
Schuler posted his best finish at the championship, closing with a final round of 80 to place in a three-way tie for fifth place (291). This was Schuler’s third top 10 finish at the championship, placing seventh in both his freshman and junior seasons. Isaac Knock shot a final round 76 and finished tied for 17th (301) and Austin Reitz tied for 20th overall with a 72-hole score of 303, shooting a final round of 74. Colton Kooima, who did not play in the first two rounds last fall, carded the low score of the day with a three-under 68 after shooting a 69 in Monday’s third round.
Northwestern has won six of the last seven conference championships, all under coach Aberson, and moves on to play in its fourth straight and eighth overall NAIA Men’s Golf Championships.
