Finishing first in the MIAA Golf Championship was right where the Lions needed to land as they begin to wrap up their spring season.

Falling behind most of the season left the Lions frustrated but determined. The team spent April 28 and 29 in Lawrence, Kan., competing with the other eight golf teams in the division.

“It was a good tournament and we all contributed to the win. We have been having a tough time,” said sophomore Andy Koehler.

With Washburn University leading in the golf division this season, the Lions needed a first place finish in the championship. They pulled through with first place but needed WU to land at fourth place. Washburn tied Central Missouri State University for second place. Winning first place put the Lions only one point behind WU for the season. In the end it all came down to one stroke.

“We played well as a team,” said senior Mickey Carpenter. “We knew going into it that we had to win, and we went out and played well.”

The Lions received a plaque and an automatic bid to the regional tournament in Bolivar for placing first.”We won, which is awesome, because now we know we can do it,” Koehler said.

The men are now focusing and practicing for regionals in hopes of a win that will take them to nationals.

“One of the big reasons why we all think that it’s possible is because it’s a course that we have played at least six times as a team,” Koehler said. “We think that we have a really good chance, because we haven’t peaked out yet.”

Koehler placed ninth in the tournament but thinks he didn’t play to his potential. He said that putting was his biggest struggle in the championship.

Senior Kyle Long placed first in the top 20 players with 219 strokes for both days.

“I think we are peaking right now, we are all playing better than we were,” Carpenter said.

“If we play like we should then there isn’t a team in our region that should beat us.”

Although the team members have their minds on regionals and nationals, they are also looking to next season.

“We are losing three players, and that’s a big hole to fill,” Koehler said.

The team is now looking forward to receiving a new player and friend of Danny Sinksen. Koehler said the new player has completed all the paperwork to come here.

“He’s coming from a winning program that is one of the top in the country,” Koehler said.

“He should be a big help.”

Carpenter will no longer be playing with the Lions as he graduates this month.

“They have some good young kids on the team,” Carpenter said.

“They should be pretty good.”