SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. – After the final round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, Tyler Gentilella finished tied for 10th place on the individual leaderboard, after shooting a team-low 68, as the Redbird men's golf team finished in ninth place. Gentilella fired five birdies during the third round, including three-straight for a three-round score of 223 (73-82-68). ISU finished with its best single-round score of the tournament with 300 Tuesday at The Club at Porto Cima, shooting a total score of 929 (314-315-300).
Redbird senior Jordan Fahel and Gentilella were named to the all-conference team, as the season comes to an end. Both golfers finished the season in the top-10 stroke average in the Valley.
Head coach Ray Kralis hoped for a better ending, after being projected to finish in second place.
"This was a painful way to end the season," Kralis said. "Our performance was unacceptable and one that should be a strong motivator for the guys with eligibility remaining. This is certainly not the legacy any of us want to leave, especially when you consider how strong we have been historically in the MVC. We are the ones that need to own it and return next year ready to do something about it."
Tournament-favorite Wichita State finished in first place with a total score of 864 (287-286-291) followed by Northern Iowa (298-296-307) and Southern Illinois (309-295-307), as the Panthers and Salukis tied for second place at the end of the tournament. Wichita State's 37-stroke win was the largest in the league since 1962, as the Shockers took their eighth-straight MVC title. The eight-straight titles are second only to Oklahoma State's MVC record of nine-consecutive titles.
Gentilella led the way for the Redbirds. Zach Burry improved each round, as he carded a three-round score of 231 (82-75-74). Christian Crabill followed close behind Burry with a 232 (76-77-79), while Fahel and Kyle Meihofer scored a 244 (83-82-79) and 246 (84-81-81), respectively.
The Redbirds will return to the course in September for the 2015-16 season.
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