King wins playoff to earn medalist honors at Clarke Classic
Ben King won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim medalist honors at the Clarke Fall Classic played at Eagle Ridge in Galena, Ill.
The Bee senior won his first collegiate tournament after climbing five spots on the final day to force the playoff.
King, tied for sixth place after Monday's round, matched his first-round effort with another 74 Tuesday to jump five spots up the leaderboard. His 148 was enough to catch Olivet Nazarene's Luke Martin (70-78) for first place overall in the 45-player field. King then recorded a par on the first playoff hole while Martin bogeyed to claim the title.
Jacob Stoetzel continued his strong fall with a fifth-place finish. The back-to-back CCAC Men's Golfer of the Week was tied for third after opening with a 73. He settled for a final-round 77 for a 150 and a share of fifth place.
Carsen Theis and Griffin Smits each carded a 155. Theis fired a 77 Monday before finishing with a 78. Smits reversed those numbers, shooting a first-round 78 before closing with a 77. Jacob Lange had rounds of 86 and 78 for a 164 to round out the SAU scoring.
St. Ambrose was in third place after Monday's round but overtook Olivet Nazarene (300-312=612) for runner-up honors in the eight-team tournament. The Bees shot rounds of 302 and 306 for a 608. They were able to close the gap but couldn't quite catch Dubuque, who won with a 604 (295-309).
A second SAU team placed fifth with consecutive 315s for a 630 total. Each of those five Bees had one round in the 70s.
Hayden Lee and Mason Steinert led the second group. Lee shot rounds of 76 and 81 for a 157, and Steinert matched that number by firing an 80 and a 77. Vinny Messana carded an 80 and a 79 for a 159. Luke Purcell shot a 161 (83-78) and Brody Miguel came in with a 162 (79-83).
The Bees will play their first of two October tournaments next Monday and Tuesday when they compete in the Central Fall Classic at Bos Landen in Pella, Iowa. The fall schedule will conclude at the Whistling Straits Classic at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., Oct. 19-21.