The University of Denver men’s golf team came ever so close to earning a team title in a major college tournament for the first time in four years — and to landing the automatic NCAA Regional berth that would have come with it.
Alas, it wasn’t to be.
After sharing the lead going into Tuesday’s final round of the Summit League Championship in Newton, Kan., the Pioneers finished two strokes out of the top spot in the eight-team field.
North Dakota State posted a three-round total of 29-over-par 893. DU shot a 1-under-par 287 — the second-best daily team score in the tournament — but NDSU was two better on Tuesday.
Denver’s last major team title came in this tournament in 2014.
The Pioneers put three players in the top seven individually, including two seniors who have been teammates all through high school (at Regis Jesuit) and college. Jake Kelley tied for fourth individually at 5-over-par 221 after closing with a 4-under 68. Fellow senior Chris Korte shared seventh place at 224 with freshman teammate Jackson Solem, with Korte shooting a 70 and Solem a 74 on Tuesday.
The final hole proved very costly for DU on Tuesday as Eric Hagen made a triple bogey and Korte and John Sand double bogeys.
Zach Schroeder of Fort Wayne claimed the individual title at 2-under-par 214.
Men’s Summit League Championship
April 29-May 1, 2018 (final) in Newton, Kan.
2. (out of 8 teams) Denver 294-314-287–895
4. Jake Kelley 74-79-68–221
7. Chris Korte 73-81-70–224
7. Jackson Solem 72-78-74–224
15. John Sand 75-78-77–230
19. Eric Hagen 79-79-75–233
