BATTLE CREEK, MICH. -- Junior Grant Brettnacher (Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) shot a final round 69 to finish with an overall two-day score of 142 strokes (two under par) to lead the Trine University men's golf team to a runner-up finish at the O.C. Lou Collins Memorial Tournament hosted by Olivet College at Bedford Valley Country Club in Battle Creek, Mich.
The Thunder improved their team score by 10 strokes with a final round team score of 289 strokes and ended the two-day event with a grand total of 588 strokes (299+289=588) to place second of 14 schools, just 14 strokes back of the tournament champion. Hope (Mich.) College took the team title with 574 total strokes (287+287=574) and Calvin (Mich.) College was third with 593 strokes (303+290=593).
Brettnacher's three-under, 69, was the best of the day for the Thunder and gave him a tournament-total of 142 strokes (-2) to finish in a tie for second overall individually. Nick Knowlton (Bridgman, Mich./Bridgman) and Cameron Ruge (Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater) both shot rounds of 73 strokes on the final day. Knowlton, who also carded a round of 73 strokes in the first round, ended the tournament with 146 strokes and posted a top-15 finish in a tie for 13th. Ruge ended the tournament with 151 total strokes (78+73=151) to finish third on the team and tied for 19th overall.
Junior Joe LeSueur (Northfield Center, Ohio/Trinity) improved his first round score by seven strokes on the final day and carded a 74 to post an overall score of 155 strokes (81+74=155). Junior Todd Mieske (Owosso, Mich./Owosso) rounded out the team qualifying scores with a an event-total of 156 strokes (75+81=156).
Sophomore Carlos Coeto (Bernardo, Mexico) competed as an individual for Trine and continued his impressive play in the second round, firing a round of 70 (-2) and tied Brettnacher for second place with an overall score of 142 strokes (72+70=142).
Up next for Trine will be the one-day Alma Invitational hosted by Alma (Mich.) College next Saturday, Sept. 8 at Pine River Country Club in Alma, Mich. The invitational is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.