Marian Shatters 54-Hole Record as Knights Win The Player Club Invitational

Yorktown, Ind. - Led by Brandon Heffner's school-record 206 winning scorecard, the Marian men's golf team began a new era under head coach Steve Simmons with a win at the Player Club Invitational hosted by Taylor University. The Knights defeated four teams mentioned in the first NAIA Coaches Poll of the season, including No. 12 Taylor, finishing first overall in the field of 15.

The Knights dominated on the first day of the tournament, shooting a 575 (285+290) team score in the opening 36-holes to carry a four-stroke lead over Indiana Wesleyan into Tuesday's final 18 holes. Marian finished the tournament strong, carding a 286 on the final 18 holes of the invitational to end with a team score of 861, setting a new Marian school record. The Knights' previous team record of 874, set in 2009 (Jones, Smith, Pfund, Weber, Koors), was slashed by 12 strokes, with the team of Lane Zedrick, Nolan Potter, Luke Beetz, Weston Ogden, and Brandon Heffner etching their mark in history. 

Heffner was Marian's individual leader as he scored the tournament win with his own record-setting performance. Heffner shot a 206 for his round, carding a 67 in round one and 65 in round two, while finishing the two-day tournament with a 74. Heffner's score of 206 for the 54 holes broke the previous mark set twice by Jay Williams by four strokes, as the junior finished 10-under-par. Heffner also tied the school's 18-hole record with his second round score on Monday, as his eagle putt on the final hole gave him a 65, tying him with Stephen Ford and Weston Ogden in the record book.

Zedrick finished 13th in his first collegiate tournament, firing a 219 to end three strokes over par for the tournament. Zedrick shot a 73+74+72 to get to his 219 over the three rounds. Ogden finished tied for 17th with his score of 221 (75+77+70), and Beetz finished tied for 19th with a 222 (73+76+73) score. Potter would finish 25th, shooting a 223 (77+79+67) for the three rounds. 

Augie Mann and Will Pruitt played as individuals outside of the team score in the win, with Mann placing 19th with his 222 (72+74+76) score, while Pruitt finished with a 224 (73+75+76) in 29th place.

In the field, Marian defeated Cornerstone's second place score by 10 strokes, (RV) Indiana Wesleyan, No. 12 Taylor, (RV) Missouri Valley, and (RV) Northwestern Ohio. Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor, and Missouri Valley finished third through fifth, respectively. 

Marian will look to keep their momentum going in two weeks as they compete in the NAIA Midwest Invitational at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. 

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