COLUMBUS, IND. – Junior Joe Atkisson of the University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s golf team claimed medalist honors at the 2013 GLVC Championship on Tuesday, winning a playoff hole against Rockhurst’s Tanner Buleski at the Otter Creek Country Club.

Atkisson, the first player in program history to claim GLVC medalist honors, birdied the first playoff hole to earn the hardware.

In the playoff, Atkisson opened by striping a drive off the 528-yard, par-5 first hole, while Bulejski blocked his drive right of the cart path, forcing a punch out to the fairway where the ball came to rest approximately 220 yards from the hole. Noting after the playoff that he could not resist the temptation to go for the green in two based on where he lay, Atkisson made the attempt for the first time this week and scorched a 235-yard fairway metal right in line with the flagstick, coming to rest in the back fringe, some 20 feet away.  Bulejski needed five shots to get to the putting surface, but after a chip that nestled five feet away from the pin, Atkisson dropped in the birdie putt to secure the title.

Atkisson shot a 54-hole school record 214 en route to the title, firing rounds of 70, 73 and 71. He is the second player in program history to earn conference medalist honors as UMSL Sports Hall of Famer David Rhoads won the 1993 MIAA individual title.

Atkisson’s play helped the Tritons to a field-best team score of 877 (293-292-292). That score also set a new school mark for 54 holes of competition.

Following the 54-holes of stroke play yesterday and today, the 14-team field has been whittled to four, as UMSL, Belarmine (884), Indianapolis (888) and Lewis (894) qualified for Tuesday’s match-play semifinals. Those four teams will be seeded Nos. 1-4, respectively, and compete in 18-hole match-play rounds on Tuesday morning for a chance to play for the GLVC title in the afternoon.

The Tritons are seeking their first-ever GLVC Championship. UMSL won MIAA team championships in 1992 and 1993.

Senior Chase Smith, who sat atop the leader board after the first two rounds, tied for third place and earned All-GLVC honors. Smith carded rounds of 71, 69 and 77 to finish with a score of 217.

Also for the Tritons, junior Warren Crow placed 16^th with a 224 (75-73-76), while freshmen Colby Yates (77-77-71 – 225) and David Abolt (78-79-74 – 231) tied for 17^th and 41^stplace, respectively.

COLUMBUS, IND. – Paced by senior Chase Smith‘s four-under par 140 and junior Joe Atkisson‘ one-under par 143, the University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s golf team sits atop the standings at the 2013 GLVC Championship after the first two rounds of play on Sunday at the Otter Creek Country Club.

Smith shot rounds of 71 and 69 to lead all competitors, while Atkisson followed with rounds 70 and 73 and sits in second place behind his teammate. As a team, the Tritons carded a 293 and a 292 to record a team score of 585.

The GLVC Championship features a 54-hole stroke play event with the top four teams following stroke play competing in medal/match play to determine the conference champion. A total of 36 holes were played today with another 18 to follow tomorrow. The 18-hole semifinal and final medal/match play contests will take place on Tuesday.

UMSL enters the final 18 holes with a six-stroke lead over second place Bellarmine (296-295 – 591) in the 14-team field, while Indianapolis (303-293 – 596), Lewis (312-285 – 597) and Wisconsin-Parkside (301-301 – 602) round out the top five.

Also for the Tritons, junior Warren Crow is tied for 11^th place with a 148 (75-73), while freshmen Colby Yates (77-77 – 154) and David Abolt (78-79 – 157) round out the scoring, tied for 34^th and 46^th place, respectively.

Men’s Golf Coach, Troy Halterman has the University of Missouri-St. Louis Men’s Golf Team on a roll this spring. As is often the case in Division II golf, when a team has a few good years with Senior laden talent it requires a few rebuilding years in order to regain the same competitive level. Not so much the case for the Tritons as Coach Halterman has inserted three impact Freshmen into the lineup and his young group has quickly gained the confidence that comes only from winning.

A week ago the Tritons captured The Jewell Intercollegiate, a Midwest Regional event hosted at Cherry Blossom Golf Course in Northern Kentucky. Tritons Freshmen, David Abolt won the individual title leading the team to a 23 shot victory over 2nd place Bellarmine University. The victory moved the Tritons to the #1 ranking in the Great Lakes Region.

Earlier today the Tritons finished off another win against 30 teams, many if not all, from the Great Lakes Region. The event was hosted at Purgatory GC located just outside of Indianapolis, IN. Freshmen David Abolt again led the Tritons with a 3rd place individual finish. Also for the Tritons, freshman Anthony Cope tied for eighth place with a 72-72 (144), while freshman Colby Yates tied for 19th place with a 147 (75-72). Senior Chase Smith (74-74 – 148) tie for 27th place, while junior Joe Atkisson rounded out the scoring with a 149 (72-77), tying for 42nd place.

The Tritons aim to capture their first Conference Championship as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference when they tee it up at Otter Creek Golf Club beginning April 21.

GEORGETOWN, KY. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis  men’s golf team shot an 18-hole school record 281 on the first round at The Jewell on Saturday. The Tritons lead the 24-team field and have a seven stroke advantage over second place Bellarmine heading into tomorrow’s final round.

Freshman David Abolt carded a 65 to lead all players. That score ties the second best mark in program history in 18 holes.

Also for the Tritons, junior Joe Atkisson is tied for eighth place with a 71, while junior Warren Crow is tied for 11th place with a 72. Freshman Colby Yates followed with a 73 and is tied for 15th place, while senior Chase Smith shot a 78 and is tied for 73rd place.

The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s golf team shot a 300 on its final round of the Frito Lay-Taco Bell Intercollegiate hosted by Jackson State to finish in a tie for second place.

The Tritons, who carded an opening round of 308 yesterday, posted a team score of 608 to tie with Fairleigh Dickinson. Tennessee-Martin claimed the team title with a 576 (284-292).

Freshman David Abolt was the top UMSL finisher, tying for third place individually with a 144 (71-74). Ben Reeves of UT-Martin earned medalist honors with a three-under par 141 (68-73).

Junior Joe Atkisson placed 12th, shooting 151 (75-76), while freshman Anthony Cope tied for 13th place (78-74 – 162). Also for the Tritons, junior Justin Hyun, who was competing as an individual, tied for 25th place (76-80 – 156), while senior Chase Smith tied for 39th place (84-77 – 161). Freshman Colby Yates tied for 50th place (85-84 – 169) to round out the scoring.

UMSL returns to action March 3-4, when they host the Las Vegas Desert Classic.