Nebraska Wesleyan claims 3rd straight GPAC men's golf crown

ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Nebraska Wesleyan University captured the team title by seven strokes over second place Northwestern College at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships.

The two-day event was played at Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City, Iowa.

The Prairie Wolves, who trailed Northwestern by three shots after the first day, shot a tournament best 294 for a two-day total of 595.

The Red Raiders shot a 304 on the second day for a two-day total of 602.

Dordt College, in fifth place after day one with a 314, shot a 296 today to move up to third for a total of 610.

Morningside (611), Midland Lutheran (611) and Hastings (615) finished fourth through sixth place respectively.

All of the above mentioned schools (excluding Nebraska Wesleyan because it declares NCAA Division III for postseason) will qualify for the NAIA Region III meet May 1-2 at the Indian Creek Golf Club in Elkhorn.

Individually, Northwestern junior Dan Laaveg chipped in for birdie on the seventh sudden-death hole to defeat Jeff Holm of Nebraska Wesleyan for individual medalist honors.

Both players carded a three-over 145 after the 36 regulation holes and remained tied after the first six playoff holes on the back nine.

With Holm on the green in two on the 16th hole, Laaveg chipped in from 10 yards off the left side of the green for birdie.

Holm missed his birdie putt by just over a foot to seal the victory for Laaveg.

Danny Huston (Hastings), Tyler Lawson (Nebraska Wesleyan) and Jason Kroese (Dordt) finished two strokes back with a 147 score.

The top 10 in the meet and an additional five golfers to be named in the next week (after a vote of league coaches) are considered all-conference by the GPAC.