Marquette Wins Second Straight Northern Intercollegiate

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. — Marquette held off a final round charge from Notre Dame on Sunday to claim a one-stroke victory (281-300-293—874) and win its second Northern Intercollegiate in as many years at Rich Harvest Farms.

The 10-over-par team score for the Golden Eagles was one stroke better than the Irish (299-292-284—875), who shot 4-under-par in the final round. MU finished five strokes better than Missouri, which battled the Golden Eagles for the top spot throughout the weekend.

Matt Murlick's even par 216 (71-72-73) was tied for fourth place, while reigning BIG EAST Male Golfer of the Week Hunter Eichhorn (70-76-73—219) went 3-over-par to tie for 12th, and freshman Tyler Leach posted a 4-over-par tournament (70-76-74—220) to tie for 16th.

Rich Harvest Farms, a challenging course that was host site of the 2017 NCAA Men's and Women's Golf Championships and past professional events, yielded an average score of 75.83 in the 90-man tournament, including average scores over 76 in the first two rounds.

After cruising to a 7-under-par first round on Saturday, the second (12-over-par) and third rounds (5-over-par) were more challenging for Marquette. Murlick helped the Golden Eagles stay atop the leaderboard in the second round with an even par 72, while 73s from Murlick, Eichhorn and Oliver Farrell (75-76-73—224) helped the Golden Eagles hang on for the win.

The Golden Eagles finished the tournament with a field-best 55 birdies and an 18-under-par score on Par 5 holes. Leach, making his second collegiate start, had 14 birdies, second-most in the tournament.

Marquette continues its fall season next Sunday (Sept. 23) in the Windon Memorial Classic, hosted by Northwestern at Knollwood Club in Lake Forest, Ill.