O'Neal Shoots 4-Over to Lead UU at Tiffin

By Joshua Diemer, Special Golf Correspondent
TIFFIN, Ohio (September 16, 2012) – The Blue Knight men's golf team competed in the GLIAC-heavy Kyle Ryman Memorial Invitational over the weekend. This tournament was hosted by Tiffin University at the 6,685 yard Mohawk Golf and Country Club. The only team outside of the GLIAC that competed was Division III Defiance College.

Wayne State University took control of the tournament on Day 1 to beat fellow national poll vote-getter and Tiffin by 10 strokes over the two day tournament.  Wayne State shot an even-par 288 on Day 1 behind two rounds under par from Eric Johnson (70) and Reid Dean (71). On Day 2, Tiffin came out and fired the low team round, but it wasn’t enough as they only made up 2 of the 12 strokes that Wayne State picked up after Day 1.

Overall for the tournament, Ross O’Neal (Grove City/Grove City) was the only golfer outside of GLIAC powers Wayne State and Tiffin to finish in the top-10 individually. O’Neal shot a total of 148 (74-74) to pace the Blue Knights to their lowest 36-hole team total of the year.  O'Neal tied for 6th overall in a field of over 50 golfers.  Freshman R.J. Oberle (Ostrander/Buckeye Valley) shot a personal record 82 in round 2 to help the Blue Knights shoot their lowest 18 hole total of the year.  Austin Manning (West Lafayette/Ridgewood, pictured left) and Mike Schmidt (Canton/Perry) played role reversal over the two days. Manning shot rounds of 84 and 94, while Schmidt shot rounds of 95 and 85 to round out Urbana's scoring.  The Blue Knights finished 7th in the 7-team tournament.

The Blue Knights return to action next week at the Yellow Jacket Fall Invitational at Greene Country Club.  Urbana will play 2 rounds over Monday and Tuesday, September 24-25.  {Kyle Ryman Invitational Results]