CAMDENTON, Mo. - (RV) William Woods University won its sixth team title on the season and first of the spring, topping the leaderboard over host/future conference opponent, No. 16 Mount Mercy University, in the Verhille Invitational, which was held Monday and Tuesday at the 6,855-yard, par-71 Old Kinderhook.

"Guys played their hearts out, very tough conditions made scoring very difficult, and it was a great tournament feeling the pressure coming down the finish, and they showed a lot of grit," William Woods golf coach Aaron Murphy said. "Very proud of them and looking forward to CMU next week."

The Owls posted a 27-over 595 (293, 302) to top the leaderboard. WWU beat the runner-up/host Mustangs by two strokes and shot 27 strokes better than reigning American Midwest Conference champion Columbia College, who placed ninth out of 18 teams.

Tim Falk signed for The Woods' best score at a second straight tournament to open spring season, with his 4-over 146 (74, 72) good enough for third out of 106 golfers. He birdied five holes, including the 402-yard, par-4 15th hole and the 516-yard, par-5 18th hole in both rounds.

Owls 'B' team golfer Arthur Calmelet finished just behind Falk, placing fourth with a 147 (73, 74). Calmelet birdied an impressive seven holes - he birdied the 432-yard, par-4 fourth hole and the 514-yard, par-5 ninth hole on Monday and Tuesday.

A place below Calmelet, Spencer Worley recorded William Woods' best score in Round 1 with a 1-over 72 and was tied for second. But he had a 76 in Round 2 to finish with a 148 and tie for fifth.

Rounding out the four Owls in the top 10, Liam Toole tied for seventh, shooting a 150 (74, 76) with six birdies, three in each round and all on different holes.

Falk, Worley and Toole were joined on WWU's championship team by Jose Monge, who tied for 11th with a 151 (73, 78), and Brayden Buffington, who tied for 32nd with a 156 (77, 79).

The Owls compete in another event hosted by a future conference opponent, Central Methodist University, traveling down I-70 West to tee off in the CMU Spring Invitational next Monday and Tuesday at Hail Ridge Golf Course in Boonville.

Results
1 - (RV) William Woods University 595 (293, 302; +27)
3rd: Tim Falk 4-over 146 (74, 72)
T-5th: Spencer Worley 6-over 148 (72, 76)
T-7th: Liam Toole 8-over 150 (74, 76)
T-11th: Jose Monge 9-over 151 (73, 78)
T-32nd: Brayden Buffington 14-over 156 (77, 79) - didn't count toward the team score

2 - No. 16 Mount Mercy University 597 (296, 301; +29)

3 - NJCAA Division II No. 4 Kirkwood Community College 602 (299, 303; +34)

4 - (RV) Northwestern College 608 (301, 307; +40)

5 - No. 24 Hastings College 610 (309, 301; +42)

6 - Sterling College 619 (309, 310; +51)

7 - NCAA Division III Dubuque University 620 (311, 309; +52)

8 - Morningside University 621 (312, 309; +53)

9 - Columbia College 622 (315, 307; +54)

10 - William Woods University 'B' 626 (319, 307; +58)
4th: Arthur Calmelet 5-over 147 (73, 74)
T-39th: Victor Vella 15-over 157 (80, 77)
T-47th: Joseph McCandless 16-over 158 (83, 75)
T-67th: Ted Einarsson 23-over 165 (80, 85) - competed as an individual
71st: Eliott Auffret 24-over 166 (83, 83) - Round 2 didn't count toward the team score
T-72nd: Frederik Morch 25-over 167 (86, 81) - Round 1 didn't count toward the team score
T-85th: Manuel Sills 29-over 171 (87, 84) - competed as an individual

11 - Midland University 629 (314, 315; +61)

12 - Missouri Valley College 642 (323, 319; +74)

13 - NCAA Division III Simpson College 644 (313, 331; +76)

14 - Dakota Wesleyan University 645 (326, 319; +77)

15 - NJCAA Kirkwood Community College 'B' 648 (320, 328; +80)

16 - Mount Mercy University 'B' 670 (327, 343; +102)

17 - Ottawa University 688 (348, 340; +120)

18 - Culver-Stockton College 707 (350, 357; +139)