The Fighting Scots hope Saturday’s victory at the 2002 MWC Championships is the start of a similar streak, as three of the four scorers will return next year to defend the title that Monmouth won when the second and final round of the conference meet was rained out.

“We knew we had inclement weather coming in on Saturday, so I told them every stroke counts,” said MC coach Dave Ragone. “We’re traditionally strong starters. The original plan was to be in the top two at the end of the first day and then finish it off on the second day.”

In Friday’s opening round, the Scots posted a 327 at the Aldeen Golf Club and Practice Centre in Rockford. That total was two shots better than Knox, the eight-time defending MWC champion. Saturday’s heavy rain in the Midwest certainly reached Rockford, and at 2 p.m. officials finally decided to cancel the second round, making Monmouth the champion.

Although there must have been several moments that contributed to Monmouth’s win, Ragone picked a key turning point.

“Jeff Sobotta was our first man in, and he made a 15-20 foot off the fringe to eagle the par-5 18th. That made a huge difference when the Knox kid bogeyed 18. It was a three-shot swing.”

As has been the case for much of the spring, balanced team scoring was the key to Monmouth’s success. Three golfers - Matt Fitzgerald, Nate Kern and Sobotta - posted rounds of 81 to tie for fifth place and earn All-MWC individual honors. Chad Scott rounded out the scoring with an 84. Only Kern will not be back to defend the title in 2003.

Jared Baszler of Grinnell and Jeff Henderson of Lawrence shared the individual championship by carding 78s on Friday.

Final team results were as follows: Monmouth 327, Knox 329, Lawrence 330, Beloit, 338, Grinnell 341, Carroll 351, St. Norbert and Illinois College 353 and Ripon 356.

Men's Golf