WYOMING, Mich. – The Trine University men's golf team placed third overall in the first round of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Fall Championships on Friday afternoon at Kaufman Golf Course. The Thunder sat a distant third to the leaders and eventual championship round one winners, Adrian College, through the first nine holes, but caught fire after making the turn to cut the deficit to just seven on the day.
Even after dropping seven strokes to the third-place team in the league standings Adrian, the Thunder remain in second in the MIAA standings and have to maintain a 10-stroke advantage to remain in position to host a round of the MIAA Automatic Qualifier in the spring season.
Mark Civanich rolled on the back-nine and put himself in prime position to win the MIAA Individual title tomorrow afternoon. Civanich was 3-over through nine holes, but went 4-under on the back to finish his round at 1-under 71 and in a tie for second-place. He birdied hole 10, then hit for eagle on the par-5 11th hole to build positive momentum. He was one of two student-athletes with an eagle on the course. Holes 14, 16 and 17 would also be favorable to the junior and all resulted in birdies. With 18 holes left to play in the conference season, Civanich holds a 10-stroke lead over second-place Seth Almquist from Hope College.
The second-lowest score for Trine came from Mitch Lowney. The senior fired a 74 with three birdies on the back nine. He went back-to-back on holes 10 and 11 with birdies and added one more to his round on hole 16. He has bounced back nicely this week for a chance at achieving All-MIAA honors, but remains on the outside looking in, two strokes back.
Kyler Rod had three birdies as well in his round of 79. He went under-par on holes 7, 15 and 16 and remains hopeful to be named All-MIAA. Rod needs to make up one stroke on Calvin University's Jack Marzolino or pass someone else two or more strokes ahead to qualify.
Carter Schnipke and Charlie Eriksen wrapped up the members of the Thunder team. Schnipke recorded an 82 on Friday and Eriksen an 86. Eriksen had a pair of birdies on the back nine. The freshman Schnipke is in position to garner All-MIAA accolades. He is two strokes up heading into the final 18 holes on Saturday.
Carter Rang and Mitch Blank were individual scorers for Trine, with Rang shooting an 81 and Blank an 89. Rang matched Rod with birdies on holes 7 and 15, while Blank was the only member of the Trine team to hit a birdie on the par-4 third hole.
The fall season concludes on Saturday afternoon with another round at Kaufman Golf Course to decide the 2022 MIAA Men's Golf champion.