Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

YORKVILLE, Ill. (May 6, 2023) - Channeling its finest play in the season's final and most challenging event, the North Central College men's golf team posted its lowest stroke total in eight years in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship. The Cardinals hosted this year's tournament at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club.

North Central opened the tournament Thursday with an 18-hole team score of 310, eclipsing the Cardinals' previous season best by two strokes. Leading the way was Elias Finazzo, who carded a two-over par score of 73 which surpassed Finazzo's previous season best of 77.

Zachary Lunde (78) and Cole Martin (79) were the Cardinals' top finishers Friday as they carded a total of 321. North Central headed into Saturday's final round tied with Wheaton College and North Park University for fifth in the field. 

Brendan Joy opened play Saturday with a one under-par 35 on the front nine en route to a season-best round of 73, while Martin shot 77, Mitch Boryszewski carded a 78 and Finazzo a 79 for another season-best total of 307. 

The Cardinals' final-round effort tied them with Elmhurst University for fifth in the final standings (938). Illinois Wesleyan University, which placed all five entrants in the top 10 in the individual standings, won the team championship with a 54-hole score of 865. 

The Titans' Quinn Clifford won the CCIW individual championship, carding an even-par total of 213 to finish one stroke ahead of teammate Bobby Beaubien and William Davis of Elmhurst, who tied for second at 214.

Martin and Finazzo finished tied for 20th overall with identical totals of 234, while Joy was one shot behind in 25th (235). Boryszewski placed 30th (241) and Lunde 34th (244).

North Central's total is its lowest after 54 holes in a CCIW Championship since 2015, when the Cardinals totaled 927 strokes in the first three rounds of a 72-hole event at The Rail Golf Club in Springfield. 
 
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