EDINBURGH, Ind. -  The W men's golf capped off its second-consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) championship on Tuesday, finishing with a 1-under-par 287 as a team and 14 strokes clear of runner-up Lake Forest College. The Owls were 11-under for their 54 holes of the tournament and were the only team to finish in red numbers all three rounds at the Timbergate Golf Course.
 
And with the SLIAC victory also comes the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national championships on May 20-23, 2025, at the Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York. Last year, The W placed 38th in the nation.
 
"I am so very proud of this group," MUW Head Coach Benji Williams said. "Most of our roster has been together for several years and we've taken the approach that this is our proverbial 'last ride' together. I think you saw that our lineup has some punch and also played within itself. We got out to a big lead on the field after day one, withstood the charge on day two, and just took care of our own business on day three.
 
"We got great contributions from each player, which supports the fact that we have developed a 'program' and not just a team. Any player we have out there is capable of leading us at any time."
 
MUW distanced itself from the field on day one, going 9-under as a team and leading the field by 14 shots. Second place Lake Forest College and third place Lyon College both closed the gap in the second round – getting within four shots at one point - only see the Owls create a double-digit lead in the team standings on the final 18 holes to secure the title.
 
Individually, senior Matt Wilkinson won the individual medalist honors and did so in exciting fashion. Wilkinson trailed the then co-leaders – teammate Zach Riley and Tom Wengronowitz from LFC at minus-5 - by one shot with two holes to play. Wilkinson would birdie both of his final holes to leapfrog into first place and finish with a 6-under 210 (66-74-70).
 
Wilkinson, in addition to first team All-SLIAC recognition, was also voted as the Player of the Year.
 
Riley shot 70-69-72=211 to earn his second-consecutive first team All-SLIAC finish.  Teammate Luke Yocum (72-70-72=214) tied for fifth to also repeat as a first team all-conference member.
 
Spence Davis' 71-74-75=220 was good enough for 11th place in the final standings and second team All-SLIAC accolades.
 
Cameron James' 76-75-73=224 rounded out MUW's lineup and earned him a top-20 finish, tying for 18th in the standings.
 
In addition to the all-SLIAC awards, Williams was named as the Coach of the Year for the second-straight season, as well. Yocum was voted to the All-Sportsmanship Team.