MCDERMOTT, OH - The Ohio Christian University men's golf team made program history at the Roger Merb Invitational, setting a new 36-hole school record with a team score of 599 while finishing third at Elks Country Club.
The Trailblazers opened the tournament with a 299 before recording a 300 in the second round to finish at 399, breaking the previous program record of 605 set at the ALC Spring Invitational in 2021. Ohio Christian finished third behind tournament champion Shawnee State (589) and runner-up Hocking College (594).
Judah Layton led the Trailblazers individually, tying the program record for lowest 36-hole score with a 142. Layton opened up the tournament with a 69, tying the second-lowest 18-hole score in program history, before finishing with a 73 in the second round. His 142 total placed him second overall in the tournament.
Jacob Hicks and
Trey Bottles both tied for 12th with two-round totals of 152. Hicks carded rounds of 75 and 77, while Bottles finished with rounds of 77 and 75.
Ethan Puckett placed tied for 16th with a 153, improving from a 78 in the opening round to a 75 in the second.
Brady Lung finished the team lineup in 19th with a 155 after rounds of 78 and 77.
Competing individually,
Samuel Walker finished 10th with a 150, carding multiple rounds of 74 and 76.
Kobi Payne finished 38th with a 168, improving by 12 strokes in the second round with a 78 after opening with a 90.
Ohio Christian's record-setting 599 marks the lowest 36-hole team score in program history, while Layton's adds another program record-tying performance to the Trailblazers' historic outing at the Roger Merb Invitational. The Men's team will travel to Indiana University Kokomo on October 10 for a a two-day tournament.
