Indianola, Iowa — Luther College fired a 302 Saturday at Indianola Country Club to put the finishing touches on the program's 11th Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Men's golf championship, and second consecutive title.
Matt Unruh of Nebraska Wesleyan was the IIAC Men's golf medalist and most valuable golfer.
The Norse, who captured their 11th championship in program history, placed two players in the top 10 and finished the tournament with a 929 three round total — nine strokes clear of runner-up Simpson (938). Simpson placed a conference high three, in the top 10. The position for second and third place in the team race juggled back and fourth throughout the final round but Simpson would secure second when the final ball met the bottom of the cup. Nebraska Wesleyan finished 10 strokes off the lead and one stroke back from second to finish in third-place at 939. Rounding out the team scoring, in order from fourth to ninth is Central (959); Loras (961); Coe (973; Wartburg (996); Dubuque (1042); and Buena Vista (1084).
Nebraska Wesleyan junior Matt Unruh maintained his round two, three stroke lead to finish the third round as the 2017 medalist and golfer of the year. Unruh fired a final round 74 Saturday to become Nebraska Wesleyan's first ever IIAC Men's Golf medalist.
He earned medalist honors by finishing the tournament with a 233 (+9) total (77 - 72 - 74).
Tanner Randall of Wartburg finished second (226),
Joe Fewer of Luther was third (228),
Ben Grotnes of Luther was fourth (231), and Simpson's
Reid Cobb rounded out the top five (232).
The next four All-Iowa Conference positions were decided by playoff. Tied for sixth at 233,
Korbin Sesker of Simpson and
Hunter Livermore of Coe headed to a two-hole playoff where Sesker earned the sixth-place position. Simpson's
Andrew Lallier and Nebraska Wesleyan's
Zach Tuttle saw themselves deadlocked for eighth at 234 and headed to a one-hole playoff. Andrew Lallier went on to earn eighth place. Rounding out the top 10 was Loras'
Pete Leinenweber with a 237.
The top 10 players in the final medalist standings receive all-Iowa Conference honors.
Luther's Scott Fjelstul was named IIAC Coach of the Year. The honor was Fjelstul's 10th and second consecutive.
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Matt Unruh
Nebraska Wesleayn
2016-17 IIAC Champion/Golfer of the Year |
Scott Fjelstul
Luther College
2016-17 IIAC Coach of the Year |
| Most Valuable Golfer – Matt Unruh, Nebraska Wesleyan |
| Coach of the Year – Scott Fjelstul, Luther |
| Finish |
Player |
School |
Year |
Hometown/High School |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Total |
| 1 |
Matt Unruh |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
Jr. |
Lincoln, Neb / Lincoln East |
77 |
72 |
74 |
223 |
| 2 |
Tanner Randall |
Wartburg |
Jr. |
Ankeny, Iowa / Ankeny Centennial |
81 |
73 |
72 |
226 |
| 3 |
Joe Fewer |
Luther |
So. |
Edina, Minn. / St. Thomas Academy |
76 |
80 |
72 |
228 |
| 4 |
Ben Grotnes |
Luther |
Jr. |
West Des Moines, Iowa / Valley |
76 |
76 |
79 |
231 |
| 5 |
Reid Cobb |
Simpson |
Fr. |
Panora, Iowa / Panora |
80 |
81 |
71 |
232 |
| 6* |
Korbin Sesker |
Simpson |
Jr. |
Johnston, Iowa / Johnston |
84 |
75 |
74 |
233 |
| 7* |
Huner LIvermore |
Coe |
Jr. |
Atkins, Iowa / Benton Community |
81 |
78 |
74 |
233 |
| 8* |
Andrew Lallier |
Simpson |
Fr. |
Algona, Iowa Bishop Garrigan |
76 |
74 |
74 |
234 |
| 9* |
Zach Tuttle |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
Sr. |
Wichita, Kan. / Wichita Independent |
85 |
77 |
72 |
234 |
| 10 |
Pete Leinenweber |
Loras |
Jr. |
Evanston, Ill. Loyola Academy |
82 |
78 |
77 |
237 |
| NOTES |
| Based on finish at Conference Championship |
| * – place determined in sudden death playoff (1st - 9th) |
