On April 24th, the Blackburn College Men's Golf team closed out their season at the SLIAC Championship tournament in Staunton, Ill. at Timber Lakes Golf Course. After coming off a strong finish at last year's tournament, the Beavers looked to build off of that second place finish.
With a light rain that seemed to last the first round of the tournament the Beavers looked to take advantage of the course with the wet scoring conditions. With three seniors leading the way, Blackburn shot a first round score of 316. Senior, Trenton Easley led the team with a first round 76. Kyle Kesinger, Senior, finished just one shot behind him with a 77. Jordan McMillen shot a opening 79 for the Beavers, and Anthony Harper rounded out the team scoring with an 84.
In the second round, it was Kesinger who grabbed the headlines for Blackburn as he shot a one under par, 71. Jordan McMillen shot a second round 79, and he was followed close behind by Easley who shot an 80. Harper rounded out the team score with a second round 81. This gave the Beavers a team score of 311. This placed the team in third place after day one with an overall total score of 627. Kesinger sat just one shot out of first place, Easley was in a solo 6th and McMillen sat just two shots out of the top ten.
With better weather on day two, the Beavers looked to take advantage and bring in some low scores. The highlight of the day was McMillen's team low round score of 74. He was followed by Easley's 75. Kyle Kesinger shot an 80 in the third round and rounding out round three's team score was Harper with an 82. For a team total of 311 for the final round giving the team a solid third place finish, behind Webster University and Iowa Wesleyan University.
High finisher for Blackburn was Kesinger, finishing a solo fifth place, earning him All-Conference first team. Easley placed solo 7th overall, earning him All-Conference second team, and he was followed close behind by McMillen who placed solo 8th overall, also earning him All-Conference second team.
McMillen on his final tournament --"My last tournament was bittersweet. The team didn't achieve the goal we wanted but it was still a memory I'll never forget. Looking back over my past 4 years here at Blackburn has been great. I've meet so many life long friends here. This years team was a blast to be a part of. We came into conference looking to win and we definitely had the potential but overall it wasn't meant to be. I'd like to thank Coach John Malin for being the best golf coach I've ever had. He's always looking out for us and I couldn't have asked for a better coach. I'll always appreciate my time I got to spend with him. I'd also like to thank Coach Seth Schultz. He was a key role in my success as he knew how to calm me down and get me to play to my best potential and he's a great coach and between him and Coach Malin I couldn't ask for better coaches. I'd also like to thank this years team for being the best group of guys. It was such a blast and I'm going to miss it. To the future Blackburn golfers, don't take anything for granted. One day you'll look back and be wishing you had one more chance to tee it up again."