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Owens Community College Express golf begins its postseason run toward a national title as the program competes in the NJCAA Region XII Men’s Golf Championships at Bedford Valley Golf Club in Battle Creek, Mich., May 9-10.
Local Owens Express golf student-athletes include Brooks Gardner, 81 scoring average (Bowling Green), Louis Fahrbach, 84.8, (Northwood), and Kyle Simmons, 80.7, (Genoa). Gardner is the son of Eastwood graduate and State Rep. Randy Gardner.
The Express golf team captured one match and invitational title during the season, highlighted by a third-place finish in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Championship Invitational. The program also finished third in the NJCAA Region XII Sub-Regional championship after rounds of 329-309 (638) at the 6,915 yard Belmont Country
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| Louis Fahrbach |
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| Brooks Gardner |
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| Kyle Simmons |
Club in Perrysburg.
Now in its sixth year as an intercollegiate athletic program, Owens will compete against 10 intercollegiate golf programs and over 60 individuals in the two-day 54-hole NJCAA Region XII tournament. The program must finish as one of the top two teams to advance to the NJCAA Division II National Championship, May 17-20. Individuals can also advance to the national championship tournament. Owens made two trips (2005 and 2008) to the NJCAA Division II National Championship.
Other Owens golfers are Lee Schmidlin, 84.3, (Whitmer), Kyle Anderson, 80.3, (Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, Mich.), Brian Brumenshenkel, 83.5, (Anthony Wayne), Greg Hermes, 80.8, (Maumee), Kevin Hoyle, 84, (Anthony Wayne), and Casey Lawless, 81.6, (Patrick Fogarty Secondary School Orillia, Canada).
At the OCCAC championships, Columbus State won with a score of 320-306—626 followed by Cincinnati State (325-309—634), Owens (329-309—638), and Lakeland (371-355—726). Simmons finished at 86-73—159 and Gardner finished with an 88-82—160, seven and eight strokes behind Columbus State medalist Andy Henahan (78-74—152). Owens overall record at that point was 19-21-1 and OCCAC record was 7-7-1.
AT the Cincinnati Invitational at Weatherwax Golf Course, Owens won with 316 strokes, followed by Columbus State (318), Cincinnati State (319), and Lakeland (358). Simmons shot 40-39—79 and Gardner shot 39-41—80, four and five strokes behind the medalist from Columbus State.
At the seven-team Jackson CC Golf Invitational at The Grande Golf Course in Michigan, Owens finished fifth with 323 strokes, trailing Kalamazoo Valley (314), Jackson (315), Grand Rapids (319), and Columbus State (320). Simmons shot a 42-41—83, eight strokes behind the medalist from Kalamazoo Valley. Gardner shot 43-41—84 and Fahrback shot 42-44—86.
At the Lakeland Invitational at Blackbrook Golf Club in Mentor, Owens scored third with 296 strokes to finish behind Columbus State (293) and Cincinnati State (295). Lakeland had not total team score due to disqualification. Simmons shot a 37-34—71 to finish one stroke behind medalists Steve Slocum of Lakeland and Dan Martina of Columbus State, who both scored a 70. Gardner shot 34-38—72.
At the Kalamazoo Valley Invitational at the 6,673 yard Stonehedge-North Course in Augusta, Michigan, Owens finished sixth of 13 teams, scoring 320 strokes. Mott won with 295, followed by Muskegon (304), Oakland (311), Grand Rapids (318), and Schoolcraft (319). Following Owens was Jackson (323), Kalamazoo Valley (324), St. Clair (325), Trine (329), Henry Ford (335), and Ancilla (382). Gardner tied for 14th with a 77, five strokes behind Jared Andrew (72) from Mott. Simmons was tied for 29th with an 81.
At the rain-shortened Columbus State Invitational at Champions Golf Club, the host team won with 153 strokes, followed by a tie between Owens and Cincinnati State (156) and Lakeland trailed at 187. Simmons and Gardner each shot a 39 to finish five strokes behind Columbus State medalist John Sharp (34).
At Belmont in the OCCAC opener, Owens finished third with 323 strokes, trailing Columbus State (315), Cincinnati State (320), and Lakeland (366). Gardner shot 37-41—78 to finish three strokes behind Martina, who scored a 75. Simmons shot 41-40—81 and Farhback 42-47—89.
At the eight-team Oakland Invitational at Pontiac Country Club, Owens finished fifth with 332 strokes, trailing the host team (302), Mott (308), Muskegon (319), and Schoolcraft (323). After Owens came Kirtland (350), Henry Ford (372), and Alpena (391). Gardner was tied for 26th with an 85.
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