The record-setting men's golf team at Northern Michigan University put themselves in the Wildcats' record book several times during the three-round, two-day Malone Invitationtal held in Canton, Ohio. From left are team members Eric Yun, Caden Dunn, Russel Sprecher and Tyler Annala; head coach Patrick Froppe; and team member Scott Spyra. (Photo courtesy NMU)

CANTON, Ohio — The men’s golf team at Northern Michigan University put itself in the Wildcats’ record book several times while competing at the Malone Invitational in Canton, Ohio, on Monday and Tuesday.

NMU finished in a tie for eighth among the 16 teams with a three-round total of 889. The field included nine current and former GLIAC schools, including host Malone sponsoring two teams.

NMU started off sizzling early Monday with a five-man total of 291, a tie for the second-lowest 18-hole team score in school history.

Leading the way was senior Scott Spyra with a 3-under-par 69 that is the third-best individual round ever posted in Northern men’s golf. It also put him in fourth at that point in the tourney among 90 golfers.

Freshman Tyler Annala, a Westwood High School graduate, posted an even-par 72, while junior Russel Sprecher added 74 and junior Eric Yun 76 to form NMU’s team score. Fifth player Caden Dunn, a junior, shot 97.

In the second round, played later Monday, the Wildcats shot 296 for a two-round total of 587, again the second-lowest 36-hole score in NMU history.

Yun led Northern with a 1-under 71, while Spyra, Annala and Sprecher each shot 75. Dunn added 98.

And in Tuesday’s third round, Northern shot 302 to complete the event. Spyra shot 76 for a three-round total of 220, 4-over-par and tied for 21st. Yun and Annala each posted 75 and each finished at 222, 6-over, and good for a tie for 28th. Sprecher shot 76 and finished at 225, 9-over, and tied for 42nd. Dunn added 91 and came in at 286 for 87th.

Ex-GLIAC member Tiffin won the team title with 847, 42 shots ahead of NMU, while another former conference team, Hillsdale was second with 860.

The top current GLIAC team was Saginaw Valley State, in sixth with 882, while the Wildcats tied for eighth with ex-league team Walsh. Current GLIAC member Purdue Northwest was 14th with 911.

Malone’s Connor Curry won individual medalist honors with 202 on rounds of 69, 65 and 68, while Hillsdale’s Darragh Monaghan and McKendree’s Phasin Vichitcharoenpaisam tied for second with 208. Monaghan shot 69, 68 and 71, while Vichitcharoenpaisam had 69, 70 and 69.

The NMU men return to Ohio for the Doc Spragg Invitational to be hosted by the University of Findlay, another ex-GLIAC member, in Findlay, Ohio, on Monday and Tuesday.

After that is the final fall event on Oct. 15-16, the GLIAC Preview in downstate Augusta.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.