ANGOLA, Ind. – In the AC Eddy Invitational at the home course for the Trine University men's golf team, Zollner Golf Course, the Thunder were able to retain both the team and individual trophies. Trine was first with a team score of 290, seven strokes ahead of Adrian College in second. Mitch Lowney was the only student-athlete under par with a 2-under 69 for the day to claim individual medalist honors.
Lowney was a sharp 3-under on the front nine to highlight his round. He hit for birdie on holes six, seven and nine, as well as holes 13 and 18 on the back nine. He led the field with five total birdies and had the lowest score on par-4 holes en route to his 69.
Mark Civanich tied for second with an even-par 71. He had four birdies, including three on the back nine holes. Civanich dominated the par-5 holes and had a birdie on all three of that hole type. Charlie Eriksen had a consistent round on his way to a 74, with two birdies on the back nine. Eriksen was just outside the top five, as he tied for sixth overall.
The final two scoring members for the Thunder were Carter Schnipke and Nick Coccaro. Schnipke shot a 76 to battle for 11th place while Coccaro fired a 78, good for 22nd (tie). Schnipke had nothing higher than a bogey on his card while also shooting three birdies. It was an up-and-down round for Coccaro that was highlighted by an eagle on the 18th hole, a par-5.
Other members of the Trine men's golf team also scored inside the top-10 as individuals. Travis Mersing went 1-over 73 on the day to finish in a tie for fourth. The junior had 12 pars in his round, one off the statistical lead, as well as a pair of birdies. The duo of Garrett James and Wade Shafer tied for ninth by turning in scorecards that read 75. Schafer had four birdies, while James had three.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Automatic Qualifier continues with rounds two and three at the Wuskowhan Players Club in West Olive, Michigan. Play begins on Friday, April 21.