Rock Island Today

Parker Klitzke's finish of 11-under par through two rounds of the NCAA Regional in Nebraska has people talking about the Augustana Vikings men's golf team.

More people, that is.

Klitzke was also named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Golfer of the Year in May, adding to accolades the team has earned thanks in large part to coach Paul Del Vecchio, who took over five years ago. 

The Vikings finished sixth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) this season, but Del Vecchio has helped the golf program really take off at Augustana. Last year, he told the Augustana Observer that he would have been surprised if the team didn't end up in the top 10 at the Tim Kopka Memorial Tournament in September in West Dundee. 

The Vikings went 113-82-2 head-to-head in 24 rounds over the course of 12 events in the 2016-2017 season. According to GolfStat.com, that ranked them 114th in the country. 

Eric Swanson and Gabe Askam shared most valuable player honors, and the Vikings placed second at the 32-team Midwest Region Classic and third among 10 schools at the Viking Fall Shootout. At the Clarke Fall Classic, the Vikings finished fourth among 15 teams. Augustana junior Gabe Askam was the low scorer. 

Although Luther College won the September Midwest Region Classic at Eagle Ridge in Galena, the Vikings were close behind, finishing second by two-strokes in the 32-team field event. 

Askam had an average of 78.3 strokes over 20 rounds in 10 events. Swanson finished with an average of 78.7. 

The following are the stats from the 2017 CCIW Red Tail Run in Decatur:

Rank	Team	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total	Par
1	Illinois Wesleyan	292	293	285	870	6
2	Millikin	302	300	290	892	28
3	Carthage	304	299	292	895	31
4	Wheaton	300	314	293	907	43
5	Elmhurst	318	314	290	922	58
6	AUGUSTANA	314	318	302	934	70
7	North Central	333	327	313	973	109
8	North Park	345	333	328	1006	142
9	Carroll	358	344	340	1042	178

 

Rank	Player	Team	Rd 1	Rd 2	Rd 3	Total	Par
1	O'Neil, Conner	Illinois Wesleyan	76	71	68	215	-1
2	Donovan, Kyle	Carthage	73	72	73	218	2
3	LeVine, Skylar	Illinois Wesleyan	74	75	70	219	3
t4	Buente, Blaine	Millikin	77	71	72	220	4
t4	Engelking, Drew	Wheaton	74	77	69	220	4
6	Pershing, Drew	Illinois Wesleyan	80	70	72	222	6
t7	Davis, Blake	Millikin	76	75	73	224	8
t7	Johnson, Ben	Illinois Wesleyan	72	77	75	224	8
t9	Nocek, Jonathan	Illinois Wesleyan	73	78	75	226	10
t9	Stewart, Alex	Carthage	76	75	75	226	10
t24	ASKAM, GABE	AUGUSTANA	76	82	75	233	17
27	SWANSON, ERIC	AUGUSTANA	79	76	81	236	20
28	SIERRA, ALEX	AUGUSTANA	80	81	77	238	22
t29	JACOBS, MICHAEL	AUGUSTANA	83	85	72	240	24
t29	JAYNE, CORY	AUGUSTANA	79	83	78	240	24
t34	OBAL, TANNER	AUGUSTANA	82	79	81	242	26

The most improved player distinction went to Michael Jacobs. Cory Jane was newcomer of the year. Those who made CCIW academic all-conference include Askam, Ben Groselak, Jacobs, Jayne, Dalton Love and Alex Sierra.