Late Heroics Help Men's Golf Win Match Play Tiebreaker vs. Drake

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Playing its first home meet since 2015, the Creighton men's golf team rallied to tie Drake in dramatic fashion on Friday afternoon at Bent Tree Golf Course in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Creighton won the predetermined tiebreaker, most holes won.

Drake took an early 2-0 lead in the match as Shayne Patel defeated Joe Torkelson, 1-up at the No. 6 spot and Kyle MacDonald doubled that lead with a 3&2 triumph over Brad Keyer at the No. 5 slot.

Sophomore Nate Vontz got Creighton on the board with a 4&3 victory over Tim Lim, only to see Drake's Tommi Avant win his match in the No. 4 spot with a victory on the 18th hole to take down Creighton's Andrew McCormick, 1-up.

With the Bluejays trailing 3-1 in the match, Koy Potthoff won at No. 1 singles with a chip-in on the 17th hole to take a 3&1 victory over Chase Wicklund.

That left the focus of the golf course on Bluejay freshman Tucker Knaak, the reigning BIG EAST Golfer of the Week. Knaak trailed by two holes in the match with just four to play, but cut that deficit to one with a birdie on the 15th hole. On the 17th hole Knaak drilled his approach shot to within a foot, evening the match.

Following a conversation with head coach Chris Wiemers before teeing off on the 18th hole, Knaak learned he had to win the final hole to earn the tie for the Creighton team in the overall match. The Plainview, Neb., native would nearly ace the 140-yard 18th hole, sticking yet another approach shot to within a foot to win the hole with a birdie. Knaak's 1-up victory over Lucas Scherf secured the 3-3 tie in the team scores.

Wiemers called the comeback and late dramatics "one of the most exciting matches he's seen in his time as a coach at Creighton."

The Bluejays return to the course on April 13 at the Husker Invitational, which will be held at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Neb.

Creighton (3) vs. Drake (3) Match Play Results*
April 5, 2019
Bent Tree Golf Course - Council Bluffs, Iowa

6) Shayne Patel (DU) def. Joe Torkelson (CU), 1-up
5) Kyle MacDonald (DU) def. Brad Keyer (CU), 3&2
4) Tommi Avant (DU) def. Andrew McCormick (CU), 1-up
3) Nate Vontz (CU) def. Tim Lim (DU), 4&3
2) Tucker Knaak (CU) def. Lucas Scherf (DU), 1-up
1) Koy Potthoff (CU) def. Chase Wicklund (DU), 3&1

*Creighton wins tiebreaker based on most holes won

Late Heroics Help Men's Golf Win Match Play Tiebreaker vs. Drake

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Players Mentioned

Brad Keyer

Tucker Knaak

Andrew McCormick

Koy Potthoff

Joe Torkelson

Nate Vontz