Men's Golf
Men's Golf Capture Third At MCC Tournament, Bonfiglio Medalist
Bethel College Pilots: 3
MCC Championship
Game Summary
The Bethel College men‘s golf team finished third in the MCC golf championship, held Monday and Tuesday at Rock Hollow Golf Course in Peru, IN. Bethel jumped out to the lead after round one, firing an impressive team score of 305, most of which took place in winds gusting up to 45 mph but struggled in the afternoon round on Monday and ended the day in fifth place. Tuesday saw the Pilots battle back and finish with a respectable 306, which was good enough to get back to 3rd place overall, behind Indiana Wesleyan University and MCC Champion Huntington University.
The day did not come without victory for Bethel however, as senior Jon Bonfiglio captured the MCC Player of the Year award and medalist honors with a sudden death playoff victory over Austin Conroy of IWU. Bonfiglio‘s three round total of 73—76—73—222 got him into the playoff that he won on the first hole with a par. Bonfiglio‘s victory earns him a trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Silvis, Illinois, May 18—22 as an individual qualifier. “Jon has worked extremely hard and I am so proud of the way he battled thru this tournament,“ said Bethel coach Chris Hess. “It‘ll be tough for him not to have his teammates competing with him, but I know he will go out and represent each of them well in the national tournament. It is a great honor and thrill for him to end his collegiate career by competing with the best players in the nation“ added Hess.
The tournament marked an end to an amazing career of senior Eric Lebold. In his four years at Bethel, Lebold was a part of more tournament victories than any player in the school‘s history. He was also a 2—time All—Conference member, 2 times NCCAA All—American and twice earned Academic All—American honors. “Eric has done so much for this program and I have been very blessed to have an opportunity to coach him and an even bigger blessing to be his friend,“ said coach Hess. “He has achieved so many great things in his career and will be successful in whatever he does because of his character and his work ethic — he will be greatly missed,“ added Hess.
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