WAUKESHA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Trailing by a point through only two matches, the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's golf team finished strong and was victorious in its first match play event of the fall season today, as the Warriors defeated visiting Viterbo 5.5-3.5 at Morningstar Golfers Club.
- Tournament: Morningstar Match Play
- Location: Morningstar Golfers Club, Waukesha, Wis.
- Course Info: Par 72, 6,542 Yards
- WLC Team: 1st of 2 (5.5-3.5)
- Junior Joey Ploch (Oconomowoc, Wis.) accounted for the Warriors' first point of the day with a win 6&5.
- Thanks to a strong back nine, junior Solomon Zarling (West Bend, Wis.) halved his match to earn a half-point for WLC.
- Freshman Abel Krauklis (Lake Mills, Wis.) evened the match for Wisconsin Lutheran with a win.
- Junior Grant Hammer (Germantown Hills, Ill.) provided another point for the Green and White with a 2&1 win.
- Sophomore Theo Schmenk's (River Falls, Wis.) 1UP win guaranteed at least a tie for WLC.
- Junior Trey Gnewikow (Warrens, Wis.) clinched the win for the Warriors with a par on the 18th following a monster drive. Gnewikow trailed by three after the front nine and won 1UP.
- Match Play is such a fun format and a unique challenge for our guys. We found ourselves in a tough spot only leading in two matches at the turn but that wasn't the end of the story. I'm really proud of each of the guys as they kept battling—their heart and ability to persevere were on full display as we found a way to get the win. - Head Coach Adam Volbrecht
- Ricky Speltz, Andy Odom, Noah Nelson, and Brice Klabunde accounted for Viterbo's 3.5 match points on the afternoon.
- The Warriors are back on the links Monday for the Judson Fall Invitational at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Illinois. First tee time is scheduled for 9 a.m.
