MADISON, Ill. - With a view of the Gateway Arch overlooking the Gateway National Golf Links greens, the green of (RV) William Woods University had Fulton's area code on its mind, shooting 5-over 573 (286, 287) to top the 11-team UHSP Spring Invitational, which took place Monday and Tuesday.

In a competition filled with six American Midwest Conference 'A' teams and one AMC —WWU's — 'B' team, the Owls 'A' squad easily won by 16 strokes, defeating its runner-up rival that's also in the 573, reigning AMC champion Columbia College (305, 284).

Who else made the top three? The Owls' 'B' team did, nine strokes back of the Cougars' 'A' team as they carded a 598 (298, 300) to take third.

"Proud of how they played this week and battled through both rounds, and looking forward to carrying confidence into conference," William Woods golf coach Aaron Murphy said.

On the individual leaderboard, Tim Falk played consistent golf, guiding The Woods and tying for fourth out of 62 with a 2-over 144 (72, 72). The freshman from Lund, Sweden, recorded four birdies, including three on the back nine of Round 2 - back-to-back on the 271-yard, par-4 10th and 416-yard, par-4 11th hole.

Spencer Worley, who joins Falk with a conference-best three AMC Men's Golfer of the Week awards this season, signed for the Owls' best first round. During the first round, Worley sank three of his five birdies and an eagle on the 530-yard, par-5 sixth hole. Worley (70, 75) joined teammates Jose Monge (72, 73) and Liam Toole (72, 73) in a tie for sixth with a 145.

Brayden Buffington, an All-AMC honoree last season like Worley, posted Woods' best round of the tournament, firing a 69 in Round 2. The junior from the northeastern Missouri town of Bowling Green notched four birdies, three on the back nine. That great round of golf sparked Buffington to one of the Owls' most drastic round-to-round rises of the year, leaping 20 spots on the leaderboard to tie for 18th.

William Woods seeks to carry over its superior regular-season form when it tees off in its final AMC Championship, which will take place from May 5-6 at Cooper's Hawk Golf Course in Melbourne, Arkansas. The Owls have won the most AMC team (11) and individual (12) championships since the conference's first tournament in 2006.

Results

1 - (RV) William Woods 5-over 573 (286, 287)
T-4th: Tim Falk 2-over 144 (72, 72)
T-6th: Jose Monge 3-over 145 (72, 73)
T-6th: Spencer Worley 3-over 145 (70, 75) - Round 2 didn't count toward team score
T-6th: Liam Toole 3-over 145 (72, 73)
T-18th: Brayden Buffington 9-over 151 (82, 69) - Round 1 didn't count toward team score

2 - Columbia 21-over 589 (305, 284)

3 - William Woods 'B' 30-over 598 (298, 300)
T-11th: Joseph McCandless 6-over 148 (72, 76)
13th: Arthur Calmelet 7-over 149 (76, 73)
T-14th: Ted Einarsson 8-over 150 (75, 75)
T-18th: Lucas Dvorak 9-over 151 (75, 76)
T-32nd: Victor Vella 16-over 158 (82, 76) - didn't count toward team score

4 - Central Methodist 34-over 602 (304, 298)

5 - NCAA DII Lincoln 37-over 605 (299, 306)

6 - Missouri Baptist 39-over 607 (304, 303)

7 - Williams Baptist 53-over 621 (322, 299)

8 - UHSP 84-over 652 (328, 324)

9 - Hannibal-LaGrange 96-over 664 (338, 326)

10 - NJCAA DI SW Illinois 98-over 666 (339, 327)

11 - Culver-Stockton 102-over 670 (333, 337)