Final Results
 
VERONA, N.Y. (9/1/2014) -- Sophomore Kyle Gaines tied his career low for a round and a 54-hole tournament and junior Aaron Knutson recorded his second career top-10 finish as the University of Detroit Mercy men's golf team wrapped up play on Monday at the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate.
 
Overall, Detroit tallied a 299 on the final 18 holes to take third with a 905 (318-288-299). Host Missouri won the event with an 870 as the Tigers hosted the tournament for the sixth-straight year at the at the Par 72, 7,105-yard Kaluhyat Course at Turning Stone Resort in upstate New York.
 
"It was an up and down day today, but I am proud of the way the guys fought back from yesterday's start," said head coach Luke LaFave '02. "We let some shots slip away today, but we hung in there."
 
Gaines – who came into the day tied for eighth – moved up to share sixth with a 220 (78-72-70) as the second-year Titan fired a 2-under 70. The 70 matched his career low which was also set at the Kaluhyat Course last season, while the 220 tied his card at the Wolverine Intercollegiate as a rookie. He also topped Detroit with 36 pars, added an eagle and was tied for the tournament lead playing the Par 3's to a 3-under, 2.75 average.
 
"Kyle just has a great attitude," said Coach LaFave. "I wouldn't even say that he played his best this weekend, but he got the most out of his game and I am looking forward to a great sophomore season for him."
 
Knutson posted his second-straight round of even-par golf with a 72 for 10th place and a 224 (80-72-72) mark. The top-10 effort was the second in his career following the tie for ninth he had at the Cleveland State Invitational last fall. Knutson was tied for the event lead with 14 birdies and was also tied for eighth in Par 4 (+5, 4.17) and Par 5 (Even, 5.00) scoring average.
 
"Aaron has a lot of talent and he was really solid for us this weekend. He had some strokes slip away in the middle, but I challenged him to finish strong and he did going birdie, birdie on 17 and 18," added Coach LaFave.
 
Junior Wil Wittmann shot a 78 in the final round and tied for 21st with a 230 (80-72-78), which included an eagle and 33 pars for the second most on the squad, while sophomore Spencer Lendzion tallied a 79 – including 10 birdies - and shared 28th at 231 (80-72-79).  Freshman Matt Zerbel concluded his collegiate debut with a 79 in the final round, moving him to a tie for 42nd with a 241 (83-79-79).
 
"I think we have some work to do, but it was a good start for us," said Coach LaFave. "We beat some good schools an we came back strong so we will move on from here."
 
Detroit will have an extra week of practice before returning to the links as UDM will next play in Illinois State's D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate from Sept. 14-15.