Neal Ends in 11th as DC Takes Sixth at HCAC Championships

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Defiance College men's golf squad made a final-round push by shooting its best score of the four-round event. The Jackets shot a 318 on Sunday to climb to within two shots of a top-five showing, before settling for sixth with a total score of 1,355.

Jace Neal led the Jackets with a 72-hole total of 324 to finish in 11th place, while Mike Ross carded the team's best round of the event with a 76 on Sunday to climb into a tie for 17th at 335. Brian Jones came in at 345 and in a tie for 24th to give DC a trio of top-25 finishes.

Franklin's Eric Whitaker turned in three sub-80 scores during the four rounds to claim the individual title with a 305, besting Transylvania's Justin Tereshko by three strokes.

Despite not claiming the individual crown, the Pioneers took the team championship with a 1,255. TU was followed in the standings by Mount St. Joseph (1,283), Franklin (1,291), Hanover (1,302), Anderson (1,353), Defiance (1,355), Rose-Hulman (1,393) and Manchester (1,405).

The Jackets are set to return their entire eight-man roster for the 2011-2012 campaign, with the exception of Neal, who was the lone senior on this year's squad.