Owens Captures OCCAC Golf Crown

By Tom Hathaway/OCCAC Sports Information

Kirtland, Ohio---Owens and Cincinnati State have locked up first and second place in the OCCAC golf race, but this weekend's tournaments at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg will still be full of intrigue. 

Lakeland and Columbus State, which are tied for third place in the league standings, will be battling for the OCCAC's final berth in the NJCAA Region XII championships in 18-hole events hosted by Owens on Sunday and Monday.   

Owens clinched the OCCAC crown last weekend with a win and a second place finish at two 18-hole tournaments hosted by Lakeland.  It is the Express's third OCCAC links crown in the past four seasons and sixth overall, more than any other league college. 

The Express fired a 301 to win Sunday's event, played at Quail Hollow's Weiskopf Course, by 12 strokes.  Cincinnati State (313) was second followed by Columbus State (326) and Lakeland (331).

On Monday, Cincinnati State (316) ended Owens's string of OCCAC event wins at five, topping the Express (319) by three strokes to clinch an event played at the Quail Hollow Devlin Course.  Lakeland was third at 329, followed by Columbus State at 345.

Will Mullins continued his battle with teammate Dominic DiGiacomo and Cincinnati State's Evan Bryan for OCCAC Golfer of the Year honors.  Mullins carded a 69 on Sunday, seven strokes ahead of Cincinnati State's Alex Ebel.  Bryan took medalist honors on Monday with a 76 while aiding the Surge's victory.

Mullins enters the final weekend ranked first in the OCCAC with a 74.17 average.  DiGiacomo and Bryan are tied for second at 75.67.

For full OCCAC results and stats, visit here