Spartans Take Seventh at the Kepler Intercollegiate

April 22, 2018

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Michigan State men's golf team took seventh place at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate in Columbus, Ohio. The Spartans shot a 19-over-par 303 in Sunday's final round at the OSU Scarlet Course and ended the tournament 24-over-par 876 (285-288-303).

Kepler Final Results | Golfstat

Purdue took first place in the 16-team field at 3-under-par 849 (293-283-273). Illinois followed in second at 3-over-par. MSU was just two strokes out of the top five, behind Kent Sate in fifth at 21-over-par 873 and Iowa in sixth at 23-over-par 875.

"It was a disappointing day for our guys," MSU head coach Casey Lubahn said. "It's a tough course and we didn't manage it well today. You can't do what we did today at a good course like the Scarlet Course or you'll get beat up. We did some good things but we have to play 54 holes next week and have to putt a lot better."

A pair of Spartans placed in the top 10 as Michael Sharp tied for sixth and Kaleb Johnson tied for eighth.

"Both guys had solid weeks, but both felt they could have done a little more," Lubahn said. "It's good that they're peaking at the right time and that's what they need to do. It was good to see them in contention and have good finishes."

Sharp finished Sunday's round with a 6-over-par 77 and ended the tournament at 1-over-par 214 (67-70-77). Sharp has now finished sixth in two of the last three tournaments and in the top eight of three of the last four.

Johnson had the best score of the day by any Spartan on Sunday with a 1-over-par 72 with the help of seven pars and one birdie over the final eight holes. He finished the tournament 2-over-par 215 (71-72-72) and his eighth place finish was his best of the spring.

James Piot carded a 5-over-par 76 on Sunday and was 11-over-par 224 (74-74-76), taking 39th place.

Charlie Green and Andrew Walker were both 15-over-par 228 for the tournament. Green shot a 7-over-par 78 on Sunday, while Walker had a 9-over-par 80.

The Spartans will head to Baltimore, Maryland, for the 2018 Big Ten Championships next weekend. The three-day event at the Baltimore Country Club begins Friday, April 27.