Kevin Foerster - 92 (+21) - 173rd

Kevin Morris - 93 (+22) - T174th

Kevin Foerster - 92-90-182 (+40) - T172nd

Kevin Morris - 93-100-193 (+51) - 179th

Monmouth, Ill. - After a 31 year wait, the Monmouth College golf team will build on their 23rd-place finish at this week’s NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The Fighting Scots, making their first appearance in the final rounds of the tournament since 1978, slipped a bit on the final day, carding a 324 – their highest round of the week – and finished with a 72-hole total of 1256, narrowly missing a top 20 finish. Oglethorpe University carded just one round above 300 – a 301 – to win the championship by four strokes over the University of La Verne with an 1164.

Ted Starkey and Rodney Clayton were the Scots’ top finishers. The pair battled to a draw after each carded 79s on the final day to tie with five other golfers for 69th with 309s. The pair shot just one round each over 80 for the week. Clayton began the tournament with his lowest round – a 73 – and Starkey’s best round matched his teammate’s low score of 73 in the third round.

A flurry of bogeys on the back nine broke Ryan Harvey’s string of 78s each day. His final round 83 pushed him to a 317 and a tie for the 100th spot. Ryan Tapscott and Greg Jones equaled Harvey’s 83 in the final round. Tapscott tied for 108th with a 321 and Jones ended his collegiate career in 120th position with a 340.

This marks the second time in three years the Scots have qualified for the NCAA tournament. Monmouth’s best finish came in 1978 and 1975 when each squad places 10th.

Monmouth, Ill. - The Monmouth College golf team has made the cut at the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship for the first time since 1978.

The Fighting Scots came back from 28th place after the 1st Round to card a 305 on the second 18 holes and their 314-305-619 total was just enough to make the field of 23 for Friday and Saturday’s final rounds at the Dye Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla. In 23rd place, Monmouth trails the University of LaVerne which overtook 1st Round leader Methodist University. The Scots are 44 strokes off the pace, but just 23 strokes away from a top 10 spot which would equal the finish of both the 1978 and 1975 Monmouth squads.

Four of Monmouth’s five golfers carded rounds in the 70s Thursday afternoon to leapfrog five other teams and make the team cut. Rodney Clayton led Monmouth’s charge, carding an eagle on the par 5, 528-yard 13th, to check in with a 73-75-148 and sit in a tie for 26th. Ryan Harvey stayed consistent, matching 78s through the first two rounds. His 156 places him in a tie for the 100th spot.

Ted Starkey shaved nine strokes off Wednesday’s round to check in with an 83-74-157. He carded three birdies on the day – two on the back nine – to help the Scots to their lowest round since April 25th. Ryan Tapscott and Greg Jones joined Harvey and Starkey with improved rounds. Tapscott shaved two strokes off his first round score to card a 36-hole total of 80-78-158. Jones picked up his first two birdies of the tournament to drop eight strokes from the opening round. The lone senior on the squad posted a 90-82-172.

The 23 teams in the finals will tee off in two waves Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. and noon (EDT) each day. Fans may get hole-by-hole information via the Web at www.golfstat.com.

Monmouth, Ill. - For the second time in three years, Monmouth College men’s golf coach Dave Ragone (right) will take his team to the NCAA Division III National Championships.

The Fighting Scots qualified for the national championships by winning last weekend’s Midwest Conference Championship. Monmouth will represent the league at the 72-hole tournament to be held May 10-15 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The tournament features a pro-style format with the opening 36 holes determining the cut for the final two rounds. The 36-team field will be pared to 23 teams and five individuals not part of the teams making the final cut after Monday and Tuesday’s rounds have been completed. Scores will carry over for the final 36 holes Thursday and Friday.

None of the five golfers making the trip – senior Greg Jones ( Roseville, Ill./ Roseville); juniors Ryan Harvey ( Hennepin, Ill./ Putnam County), Ryan Tapscott (Port Byron, Ill./Riverdale) and Ted Starkey ( Springfield, Ill.); and sophomore Rodney Clayton ( Plano, Ill./ Plano) – were on the national team when the Scots qualified in 2007.

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Monmouth shot a team score of 314 on day two of the 2009 Midwest Conference Men’s Golf Championships, and sits with a two-day total of 624, 10 strokes ahead of second-place Carroll. Knox moved itself into third place, while Grinnell climbed from seventh to fourth with a league-best team round of 306 - 25 strokes better than its day one total.

Ripon's Mike Moldenhauer carded a 74, which is tied with Grinnell's Pete Kieselbach for the top score of the day, and also moved himself into tie for first with Illinois College's Mark Strain for the Individual Championship. Monmouth's Rodney Clayton slipped to third with an overall score of 154, but only trails the two leaders by three strokes. Kieselbach and Carroll's Jay Gitlewski are right behind with a two-day total of 155.

The third and final day of the Championship will continue Saturday (May 2) at 10 a.m.

After having the morning tee times delayed, Monmouth came out swinging as the Fighting Scots have pulled out to the early lead after day one (April 30) of the 2009 Midwest Conference Men’s Golf Championships at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Illinois. The Fighting Scots tallied an 18-hole team total of 314 just four ahead of Carroll, who is vying for its first ever Championship. St. Norbert, Knox, and Ripon follow with respective scores of 320, 321, and 328.

Illinois College's Mark Strain is the individual leader after day one as the junior finished with a three-over-par 72. Three golfers are tied for second with a score of 73 as Carroll's Michael Riek, Monmouth's Rodney Clayton, and Ripon's Mike Moldenhauer will also vie for the Individual Championship.

Play continues Friday (May 1) with the first group slated to tee off at 9 a.m.