Freshman Zach Mode posted back-to-back scores of 2-over 74 and sank the victory-clinching putt on the second playoff hole, as Corban captured the team title Sunday at this weekend's Boxer Classic.
Corban Captures Team Title With Playoff Win Over Linfield at Boxer Classic
FINAL RESULTS
BANKS, Ore. – Freshman Zach Mode hit an eight-foot par putt on the second playoff hole, as Corban's men's golf team captured its first team title of the season with a victory over NCAA Division III member Linfield in a two-team playoff Sunday at Quail Valley Golf Course.
After carding a second round team total of 12-over 300, Corban combined its second round score with a tournament-leading 11-over 299 in Round #1 for a 36-hole score of 23-over 599 that was equaled by Linfield with a 10-over 298 in Round #2 to go along with the Wildcats' opening round score of 13-over 301 for a tournament total of 23-over 599. The two teams would head to a 10-player playoff to decide the tournament winner.
On the first playoff hole – par 5 ninth hole – all 10 players would compete for the two teams, as Corban sent sophomore Jared Lambert, Mode, senior Joey Ziogas, sophomore Thomas Graves, and freshman Nick Mattox to the tee against Linfield. After the final putt dropped, the low four scores for each team was calculated with Lambert, Mode, and Ziogas registering birdies to go along with par scores by both Graves and Mattox. Unfortunately, Linfield would also record three birdies and two pars to send the playoff to a second hole.
The second playoff hole – par 4 tenth hole – would turn into a four-player showdown, as Corban's head coach Ron Sisler chose Mode and Ziogas to compete for the Warriors. Both players would be just off the green in two shots, as Ziogas chipped up to about 18 inches and Mode placed his chip shot eight feet away from the hole. After Ziogas dropped his putt in for par to go along with par and bogey scores by Linfield, Mode stepped up to his putt and sent the ball towards the hole. As the ball got closer to the cup, all five Corban players held their breath watching the ball use the entire hole before dropping in for the victory.
"I am really happy the way the kids competed," said Sisler. "We had great efforts from all the players. I was especially happy for Tom (Graves) with a career finish and Zach (Mode), who hit the eight-foot putt on the second playoff hole."
On the tournament's final individual leaderboard, Mode and Lambert finished in a two-way tie for third overall thanks to a pair of 4-over par scores of 148. Lambert, who was the clubhouse leader after the opening round, faltered in the final round with a 6-over 78 en route to his 4-over tournament score, while Mode posted the best finish of his young career with back-to-back scores of 2-over 74.
Ziogas and Graves would also finish in the Top 10, as Ziogas finished in a two-way tie for seventh place with a 36-hole score of 7-over 151 (78-73) and Graves concluded the event in a two-way tie for ninth place with a career-low two-round score of 8-over 152 (77-75).
Mattox also competed on Sunday for the Warriors, but did not count in the overall team score thanks to his second straight 18-hole score of 9-over 81 for a tournament total of 18-over 162 that was good enough for an 18th place finish.
Along with the team scores by Corban and Linfield, Whitman finished in third place with a team score of 33-over 609 (305-304) followed by Willamette (325-308=633), tournament-host Pacific (341-340=681), and Lewis & Clark (357-342=699).
Individually, Linfield's Taylor Klopp took home medalist honors with a two-round score of 1-under 143 (71-72) followed by Whitman's Evan Dyer (73-73=146), Lambert, Mode, Willamette's Ryan Kukula (78-72=150), and Linfield's Ryan Nolan (75-75=150) to round out the Top 5 individuals.
Corban will return to the links on Thursday, September 27th, at the Linfield Invitational beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Michelbook Country Club in McMinnville.