College Men’s Golf Results – Guilford’s Ratner Wins Gordin Classic-D3 Preview

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Guilford College’s Noah Ratner (Asheville, N.C./Asheville) earned his first college medalist honor Tuesday at the Gordin Classic-NCAA Division III Preview. Playing the Mission Inn Resort’s El Campeon Course, Ratner shot one-under-par 71 to finish with a 54-hole 213, three strokes better than Methodist University’s Mike Wesko (74-73-69-216) in the 92-man field.

Wesko carded Tuesday’s low individual score (69) to help the Monarchs secure the team title over Illinois Wesleyan University and Guilford, the event’s defending champion. Methodist started the day five strokes behind Christopher Newport University, but shot Tuesday’s low score (293) to finish at 292-304-293-889. Christopher Newport stumbled to a 313 Tuesday and finished fourth at 904. Oglethorpe University (304-293-308-905) rounded out the top five.

Named for former Ohio Wesleyan University golf coach Dick Gordin, the 18-team tournament featured most of the top finishers from last year’s NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships in Greensboro, as well as other top-ranked teams. The Mission Inn Resort hosts the 2012 NCAA Division III Championships in May.

Ratner started Tuesday’s final round with a one-shot edge over Oglethorpe University’s Anthony Maccaglia and Greensboro College’s Ben Nihart, the tourney’s first-round leader. Ratner began his day from the fifth hole and was two-over through 12 holes. The junior drained birdies on the first and second holes to return to even par. He parred his final two holes for his initial collegiate victory in one of the nation’s top Division III events.

Guilford freshman Mitch Robinette (Charlotte, N.C./Grace Academy) shot 75 Tuesday to place 16th in his college debut with a 76-77-75-228. Junior J.T. Thomas (Raleigh, N.C./Broughton) saved his best round (76) for Tuesday and shared 36th place with teammate Mat Hennick at 232. Senior Dusty Roberts (Reidsville, N.C./Rockingham County) shot 82 Tuesday and finished in a share of 53rd at 78-76-82-236.

Coach Corey Maggard’s team will field a junior varsity team in this weekend’s Ted Keller Invitational in Glen Allen, Va. The next varsity tournament is Oct. 9-11 at the Golfweek Invitational in Sandestin, Fla.