Trojans, Dutkowski March to Tournament Title
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Junior Alec Dutkowski fired a 1-under par round of 71 to claim his fifth career tournament title and lead the 15th-ranked Taylor men's golf team to the team title at the Egypt Valley Intercollegiate on Tuesday.
Dutkowski entered the final round in a tie for second place, two shots behind Mount Vernon Nazarene's Sam Romine, and utilized four birdies in his first seven holes to surge into the lead and secure his fifth career tournament title.
Taylor entered the final round with a three-shot lead and the Trojans tallied the lowest team score of the day by 12 shots to secure a 15-shot victory over Mount Vernon Nazarene in cool and windy conditions.
TU carded a team total of 298 on Tuesday with Dutkowski leading the way at 71 followed by 75's from seniors Mitch Lamping and Trey Turner and a 77 from sophomore Nate Morris. Senior Nick Waskom was the TU drop score with a round of 82.
Four Trojans finished inside the top seven spots on the leaderboard in the individual standings. In addition to Dutkowski's victory, Lamping continued his stellar play for the Trojans with his third straight top-three finish. Lamping tallied a two-round total of 149 (74-75) to finish in a tie for third place. Morris (75-77) and Turner (77-75) finished in a tie for seventh place at 152.
Freshman Keegan White showed promise in his collegiate debut with a tie for 26th place at 162 (79-83) for the Taylor B team. Sophomore Noah Miller shot 83-86 to finish in a tie for 50th place while sophomore Scottie Marston finished at 172 (82-90) followed by senior Josh Stimmel at 180 (87-93) and freshman Jacob Hoekert (96-101).
The tournament title was TU's third straight victory during the fall season and run's TU's head-to-head record to 40-1.
The Trojans will face a loaded field next week when TU hosts 20 teams at the Whistling Straits Championship at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler, Wisconsin in TU's final event of the fall season.