After a rocky non-conference start to the spring season, the Lawrence golf team is driving, chipping, and putting their way to the top of the conference leader board. The Vikings jumped out to an early lead in the North Division of the Midwest Conference, winning the Carroll College Invitational last Sunday by twenty-four strokes.
In second place was host Carroll who shot 346 compared to the Vikings 322. Freshman Jeff Henderson tied for first place with Carroll’s Ryan Fleming. Both golfers shot a 76. Other Lawrence golfers also did very well: Junior Travis Orth shot a 78, Blake Nelson shot an 81,and Brion Winters shot an 87.
On Monday, the Vikings competed at the conference Beloit College Open. The Vikings again were victorious, defeating nine other teams with a score of 321. St Norbert was only two strokes behind at 323. Nelson tied St. Norbert’s Ryan Schopt for first place with a score of 78. Henderson was right behind the two leaders shooting a 79. Orth and Winters both shot 82’s to round out the Vikings scoring.
The North Division of the Midwest Conference is decided by combining the results of the five tournaments hosted by the Northern Division schools. Through two of the five tournaments, the Vikings have a commanding thirty-nine shot lead. Beloit and Carroll are tied for second place.
The Vikings will compete in the Ripon College Invitational held at Lawsonia Country Club today and Saturday. Lawrence will hold its home tournament on May 5.
The season so far
* Gorlock Invitational at Maryland Heights, Mis.-March 24-25, 2002
Lawrence finished 15th with a team score of 761.
* March 29-30, 2002-Prairie Fire Classic at Galesburg, Ill.
Lawrence finished ninth among 12 teams and carded a team score of 683.
* April 8, 2002-Elmhurst College Invitational at Oakbrook, Ill.
Lawrence finished 12th among 17 teams with a score of 345.
* April 15, 2002- Beloit College Invitational at Beloit, Wis.
Lawrence edged St. Norbert College for the title by two strokes, 321-323, in the ten-team tournament.
* April 14, 2002-Carroll College Invitational at Waukesha, Wis.
The Vikings blew away the competition with a team score of 322 to take the title.