2016 Men's MVC Golf Championship - April 25-26

[1972Shocker]

8-time defending champion WSU has been installed as the unanimous favorite to win the 2016 MVC Men's Golf Championship to be held at Prairie Dunes CC on Monday, April 25th and Tuesday, April 26th. 36 holes are scheduled for Monday and 18 for Tuesday.

http://www.goshockers.com/news/2016/4/20/mens-golf-picked-to-win-mvc-championship.aspx

Not sure the Shocks are quite as good as they were last year but good to see that they are still thought to be the class of the Valley. Now they need to go out and match the performance of the Shocker ladies earlier this week.

:poster_shocks:

[RoyalShock]

Live stats

[1972Shocker]

Very tight team leaderboard just past the midway point of the 2nd Round. I assume they will finish Wednesday if they can't finish tomorrow due to the weather.

SIU leading at +18, WSU +19, MSU +22

Shocks had a 1 shot lead over SIU at the end of the 1st round. Shocker scores were:

Conrad Walcher 69, -1
Grant Bennett 71, +1
Alec Heinen 72, +2
Gage Ihrig 76, +6

Jacob Bishop had the thow away score in Round 1 at 77, +7.

In round 2 Grant Bennett is -1 after 9 holes but the rest of the guys are at +3, +4, +5 and +7 after 11 to 13 holes.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks stumbled a bit over their final holes of Round 2. Grant Bennett bogeyed his next to last hole, Jacob Bishop bogeyed his final hole and Conrad Walcher double-bogeyed his final hole as the Shocks jumped from 1 stroke out of the lead to 5 strokes out of the lead.

Looks like a 4-team race going into the final round tomorrow.

SIU leads at +22, WSU at +27, ILS and MSU both at +29.

In Round 2 the Shocker scores were:

Grant Bennett 72, +2
Alec Heinen 75, +5
Jacob Bishop 75, +5
Conrad Walcher 77, +7

Gage Ihrig had the throw away score at 84, +14

The Shocks only had 5 birdies in Round 2 compared to 11 birdies in Round 1.

The weather forecast I have seen is forecasting storms chances to pick up around 2:00pm tomorrow. Might get a little rain tonight but as long as they can get started at 8:30am as scheduled they should be able to get this in if that forecast proves accurate.

SIU, ILS and MSU all played better than the Shocks did in Round 2 so the Shocks have to get that turned around tomorrow morning.

[The 'hut]

A little Kansas wind would help the Shockers a bit. How did they get Prairie Dunes with weather like this???

[1972Shocker]

A little Kansas wind would help the Shockers a bit. How did they get Prairie Dunes with weather like this???

Got the Kansas wind today but not helping as they trail SIU by 8 with about one-third of Round 3 in the books. Shocks not playing horrible. SIU just playing a little better. Plenty of holes left but the Shocks have their work cut out for them.

[1972Shocker]

Jacob Bishop is already at +10 after 12 holes so he is looking like he will have the throw away score today. Unfortunately, that leaves the other 4 Shockers, who are a combined +6, any room for error. SIU has the advantage their because their worst score is currently +6. Bottom line is that Bennett, Walcher, Heinen and Ihrig will all have to play well if the Shocks hope to make a comeback.

[1972Shocker]

SIU has stumbled a bit and the Bennett, Walcher, Heinen, Ihrig quartet are holding steady. Shocks have now pulled to within 2 of SIU with 6 to 11 holes (a total of 32 holes still to finish).

Illinois State is currently 7 shots behind the Shocks and Missouri State has fallen off the pace as well at 11 shots behind the Shocks.

[1972Shocker]

The lack of a cushion from our 5th golfer does come into play as Conrad Walcher triple-bogeyed #12 and Shocks are now down by 5. Ouch.

[1972Shocker]

SIU is letting the Shocks hang in there. Shocks now down 2 again with 16 holes to finish. Could go either way at this point.

Update: SIU and Shocks now tied at +37. Excluding Jacob Bishop the Shocks have 15 holes to finish up.

Looks like SIU and the Shocks will be going down to the wire.

:poster_shocks:

[1972Shocker]

Bad News. Gage Ihrig picks up a triple-bogey on the par 5 17th hole and the Shocks quickly find themselves down 4 again. Probably will need some help from SIU at this point.

[1972Shocker]

Double bogey 6 by Grant Bennett on #16 drops the Shocks 6 strokes back and costs Grant a 1st place tie and playoff for medalist honors.

Only about 8 holes left to finish. Looks to me like it is pretty much settled. However, Shocks are no only 2 shots clear of Illinois State so they are at risk of falling to 3rd.

[1972Shocker]

Alex Heinen completed his round with a double-bogey on the Par 2 #2 hole. Shocks now 11 behind SIU and tied for 3rd with ILS. SIU will be the winner.

Update: Shocks edged out Illinois State by 1 shot for 2nd place.

Congratulations to SIU. They clearly played the best. The Shocks made a good run to pull even at +37 but with about 15 holes to finish. The Shocks played those holes in +11 while SIU played them in even par.

I assume this will end the Shocks' season. I doubt an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament is in the cards.

Shocks return everyone next year with the exception of Alec Heinen.

[KansasImport]

MVC Golf

Bennett did well today although I'm sure he is disappointed he didn't win.

I think Alec is back next year, didn't he redshirt his freshman year?

[1972Shocker]

I think Alec is back next year, didn't he redshirt his freshman year?

Alec did redshirt in 2011-12. He played in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 using up his 4 years of eligibility.

http://www.goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2336&path=mglf