Sept. 30, 2002
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky's men's golf team took on a big challenge over the weekend and found the going a bit rough, finishing 16th at the annual Northern Intercollegiate at Bloomington, Ind.
Coach Brian Tirpak's charges battled their way to a 10th place tie with their nine-over-par 293 tally after the first 18 holes (Saturday, Sept. 28) of the 54-hole affair on the 6,942-yard, par 71 layout at the Indiana University Golf Course. But, a slight slip to a 294 total found the Hilltoppers tied for 15th in the 16-team affair at the end of Saturday's 36 holes of play.
Then, WKU faded in Sunday's final round, ballooning out to a 305 score.
Illinois won the event, carding an excellent nine-under 843 score, just one stroke ahead of defending NCAA champion Minnesota (844). Michigan State (four-under 848) and Xavier (three-under 849) also turned in sub-par performances.
Illinois' James Lepp took medalist honors with his outstanding 11-under score of 202 (65-67-70), outdistancing runner-up Jim Fuller of Penn State (66-70-69) by three stokes and heading a list of 13 individuals who carded sub-par totals for the 54 holes.
Jared Topmiller paced the Toppers with his five-over 218 tally (70-72-76), good enough to place him in a tie for 33rd place. He carded Western?s only sub-par round in the tournament, a one-under 70 in the first round.
Other Hilltoppers competing in the event, an annual fall affair played on the host course for the spring Big Ten championships, were: John Mullendore (75-73-75=223); Robby Shaw (72-75-77=224); Adam Cox (76-74-77=227); and Peyton Cook (79-77-77=233).
