RSU’s Palmowski battles snow, sleet to win MIAA Championship
MONKEY ISLAND, Okla. (April 20) – Luke Palmowski claimed the first ever individual conference champion honor in Rogers State men’s golf history on Tuesday as he won the 2021 MIAA Men’s Golf Championship held at Shangri La Resort by seven strokes.
Palmowski battled snow, sleet, rain and weather delays to card a 75 on the final day of the event, the fifth best score of the day, to maintain his place at the top of the leaderboard as the junior finished as the only golfer under par at -5.
Despite the treacherous conditions, Palmowski carded three birdies to finish the three-round event with 13 total birdies. He finished with just eight bogeys for the entire tournament.
The victory for Palmowski is also his second-straight medalist award, as he closed the regular season with a victory at the NSU Spring Classic last week.
Palmowski led the Hillcats to a top three finish overall in Rogers State’s first-ever trip to the MIAA Championships after the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hillcats carded a 308 on the final day of the event to hold onto their third-place standing from round two. The Hillcats were sixth after 18 holes. Central Missouri won the 10-team tourney with an 874 total, 10 shots ahead of runner-up Washburn. Rogers was third at 903, followed by UCO and Missouri Western (919). Northeastern State finished seventh.
Elliot-Han Monteremal continued his climb up the leaderboard with a 76 on the final day.
Aidan Gavey finished third for the Hillcats and in a tie for 17th overall in the 50-golfer field. The junior finished the event with a 79 in the final round to close the event at +16.
Gonzalo Chaves finished fourth for the Hillcats and in a tie for 28th overall. Chaves finished the event with a 79-75-81 to shoot a +19. Ty Nicar had the final scoring round for the Hillcats in round three as he shot his best round of the event at 78. Nicar finished 35thoverall with a +21.
Rogers State will now await the NCAA Championships Selection Committee to see if the Hillcats qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships which will be held May 3-5 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Shoal Creek Golf Course.
The UCO Bronchos closed with a 311 to finish with a 911 total.
Only 24 players in the 50-man field broke 80 on the final day, with Caleb Kimmel (75) and Peyton Knell (76) among those. Evan Griffith and Parker Rose both shot 80, while Ethan Galvan had an 81.
Knell ended up tied for 10th in the individual standings at 223. Griffith tied for 15th at 231 and Kimmel tied for 17th at 232.
Northeastern State finished seventh overall with a 930 score. Brayden Strickland had the best round and tournament of all NSU golfers. He carded a third round 79 and finished tied for 13th with a 229 score.
Carlos Gomez finished with a final round of 82 and 233 for the tournament to finish in 21st. Ryan Morant carded an 81 the final day to tie for 28th with a 235 score. Gabe Replogle was a stroke behind Morant with a 77-79-80=236.
Grant Hynes carded an 82 to close out the scoring. He led the team with two birdies on the final day.