LINCOLN, Neb. – Kansas City secured the 2023 Summit League Men's Golf Championship title, rallying from a seven-stroke deficit to start the day to win the program's first since rejoining the League back in 2020. The Roos were led by sophomore Joshuaa Robards who captured the individual title and Championship MVP honors Tuesday on the par-71 layout at the Wilderness Ridge Country Club.
Robards stood atop the individual rankings after shooting his second even-par round of the tournament, pull away from second round co-leader Carson Griggs of Denver to win by three strokes. His efforts helped Kansas City erase Denver's advantage as the Roos finished with the best single-round team score of the tournament, finishing their closing 18 with a 285 (+1).
The Australia native finished his championship with a 54-hole total of 215 (+2), while Griggs and his Pioneer teammate, Alexander Gibalevich, shared runner-up honors with totals of 218 (+5), respectively. It marked the second straight runner-up finish for Griggs, who has landed on the all-tournament team each of the last three Summit League postseason events.
The DU duo helped the Pioneers to a second-place finish in the team standings with a three-round total of 889 (+12).
Oral Roberts’ Jared Strathe posted a final round 71 that included an eagle on the first hole (par 4) and four birdies. Strathe paced ORU to a third-place finish overall as the Golden Eagles closed the tournament with an 894 (+42) total.
Robards, Gibalevich, Griggs and Strathe were joined on the all-tournament team by All-Summit League Honorable Mention recipient Mathew Halvorson of Omaha. Halvorson closed out the championship with a 69 (-2) which saw him make four birdies. He ended the 54-hole tournament with a 220 (+7) score.
Reigning Championship MVP Nate Deziel and teammate Nate Adams of NDSU was the top Bison finishers, tying for ninth with 224 totals. NDSU finished fourth at 901 (+49), while Omaha rounded out the top five with a 904 (+52) total.
Up Next
Kansas City will find out its NCAA Regional destination Wednesday when the Selection Show airs live at 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. MT on the Golf Channel and shortly after that on NCAA.com.
All-Tournament Team
Josh Robards, Kansas City
Alexander Gibalevich, Denver
Carson Griggs, Denver
Jared Strathe, Oral Roberts
Mathew Halvorson, Omaha
Championship MVP
Josh Robards, Kansas City
Scholar of the Championship presented by JLG Architects
Jackson Drake, Oral Roberts
#SummitMGF
