Caseyville, IL - One championship celebration had barely ended before another was getting underway and just minutes after McKendree women's golfer Chiara Bortolotti secured individual medalist honors at Far Oaks Golf Club, a crowd of Bearcats hurried from the clubhouse toward the third green. They had another teammate to cheer on, and another championship about to be decided. Waiting for them was Simon Meiby, who was completing a spectacular final-round 66 (-6) to claim the men's individual crown at 208 (-8), three strokes clear of his nearest challengers. Two individual champions. One home course. And a finish that gave McKendree golf plenty to celebrate. The excitement extended well beyond Meiby's victory. McKendree's A Team put together the lowest team round of the entire tournament Tuesday, combining for a 12-under-par 276 to climb two positions and finish tied for third in the nine-team field. The Bearcats completed the 54-hole event at 863 (-1), sharing third with Quincy and finishing just five strokes behind co-champions UW-Parkside and Maryville, which both recorded 858 (-6). McKendree's B Team also made its presence felt, placing sixth at 881 (+17), while three additional Bearcats competed as individuals. Getting through the tournament required some schedule creativity and plenty of adjustment to the conditions. With daylight at a premium, golfers played 27 holes Monday and another 27 Tuesday rather than the traditional 18-hole rounds spread across three days. Both mornings brought bitterly cold temperatures, but by the afternoon, the extra layers were coming off as the weather warmed considerably. The final groups completed play with approximately 30 minutes of daylight remaining, bringing a long two days of competition to a close. For McKendree, the wait was worth it.
SIMON MEIBY | MEDALIST | 208 (-8)
Rounds: 70 (-2) | 72 (E) | 66 (-6)
Simon Meiby saved his finest golf for the moment it mattered most.
The McKendree standout opened with a two-under-par 70, followed by an even-par 72 in the second round. That left him well positioned heading into the final 18 holes, although there was still work to be done with several players in contention.
What followed was the lowest individual round of the tournament.
Meiby began his final round with a birdie on the par-5 first hole and added another at the ninth, making the turn at 34 (-2).
Then he found another gear.
Birdies on the par-4 10th and 11th holes moved him to four under for the round, and he added another at the par-5 14th. A birdie at the closing par-5 18th completed a four-under-par 32 on the back nine and secured his six-under-par 66.
That final score moved Meiby to 208 (-8) for the championship, three strokes ahead of Quincy's Blake Arnold and UW-Parkside's Shane Stanley, who shared runner-up honors at 211 (-5).
But the numbers tell only part of the story.
As Meiby approached his final green, word of his position had spread among the McKendree contingent. Many had just been celebrating Bortolotti's women's championship near the clubhouse before making their way across the course to witness another memorable finish.
The gathering at the third green provided a fitting backdrop as Meiby completed his medalist-winning performance.
His 66 was four strokes better than his opening round and six ahead of his second-round score, helping fuel McKendree's remarkable team effort Tuesday.
EDISON WU | T-9TH | 215 (-1)
Rounds: 75 (+3) | 71 (-1) | 69 (-3)
Edison Wu followed a similar upward trajectory, improving his score with each trip around Far Oaks and joining Meiby inside the top 10.
Wu began with a three-over-par 75 before responding with a 71 in the second round. His middle 18 featured a two-under-par 34 on the front nine, giving him momentum heading into Tuesday's finale.
He took full advantage.
Wu carded a three-under-par 69, opening with a 33 on the front nine. Birdies at the first, eighth and ninth holes helped him make the turn in excellent position, and he played the remaining nine at even par to preserve his score.
His three-round total of 215 (-1) earned a share of ninth place alongside UW-Parkside's Matthew Martin.
Wu's closing 69 was also a significant piece of McKendree's 276, giving the Bearcats a second score in the 60s during their best round of the tournament.
MATTHEW DELANTY | T-23RD | 222 (+6)
Rounds: 73 (+1) | 79 (+7) | 70 (-2)
Matthew Delanty's tournament was highlighted by an impressive recovery over the final 18 holes.
After opening with a one-over-par 73, Delanty encountered difficulties in the second round and finished with a 79. Rather than allow that score to carry into the finale, he produced his strongest performance when McKendree needed it.
His final-round 70 represented a nine-stroke improvement.
Delanty was particularly sharp on the front nine, where he recorded a three-under-par 33. Birdies at the third, fourth, sixth, and ninth holes helped him overcome a bogey at the second and make the turn well under par.
He followed with a 37 on the back, completing a two-under-par round that contributed to the Bearcats' late surge.
Delanty finished tied for 23rd at 222 (+6), sharing that position with Quincy's Logan Smith and McKendree B Team member Tristan Traustason.
PARKER RENKEN | 30TH | 225 (+9)
Rounds: 77 (+5) | 77 (+5) | 71 (-1)
Parker Renken entered the final round looking to improve upon a pair of identical 77s, and he delivered with a one-under-par 71.
His first two rounds followed remarkably similar patterns: an even-par 36 on the front nine and a 41 on the back.
Tuesday brought a different outcome.
Renken again made the turn in 36, but this time he came home in 35, finishing with a birdie at the par-4 11th and steady play across the remaining holes.
The six-stroke improvement helped complete McKendree's exceptional closing team score, with all four counting Bearcats finishing under par in the final round.
Renken concluded the tournament in 30th place at 225 (+9).
THIERRY BOUCHER | 38TH | 228 (+12)
Rounds: 74 (+2) | 75 (+3) | 79 (+7)
Thierry Boucher provided one of the more eye-catching starts of the tournament, opening his first round with an eagle on the par-5 first hole.
He added birdies at the third and ninth holes to complete the front nine in a two-under-par 34, although a difficult stretch on the back pushed his opening score to 74.
Boucher followed with a 75 in the second round, highlighted by a birdie at the par-4 fourth and another at the par-3 sixth.
His final round proved more challenging, particularly over the opening nine holes. He posted a 42 on the front before settling into a 37 on the back for a 79.
Boucher finished 38th at 228 (+12), rounding out McKendree's five-player A Team lineup.
MCKENDREE B TEAM | 6TH | 881 (+17)
Team Rounds: 290 (+2) | 300 (+12) | 291 (+3)
McKendree's second five-player lineup held its own against the nine-team field, finishing sixth overall with a three-round total of 881 (+17).
The B Team's strongest showing came in the opening round, when the Bearcats combined for a two-over-par 290. That performance included an under-par effort from Harris Munro and an even-par round from Carter Rose.
After a second-round 300, the group closed with a 291 to finish ahead of Lincoln (MO), Kentucky Wesleyan and Upper Iowa.
CARTER ROSE | T-16TH | 219 (+3)
Rounds: 72 (E) | 75 (+3) | 72 (E)
Carter Rose led McKendree's B Team contingent, recording two even-par rounds on his way to a share of 16th place.
His tournament began with an eagle on the par-5 first hole, an immediate highlight that helped him shoot 35 on the opening nine. He finished the round with a 72, followed by a 75 in his second appearance.
Rose returned to even par in the finale, carding a 37 on the front nine and a one-under-par 35 on the back.
His 219 (+3) placed him among the top 20 golfers in the field and gave the B Team its highest individual finisher.
JACK LEMATTY | T-20TH | 221 (+5)
Rounds: 74 (+2) | 75 (+3) | 72 (E)
Jack LeMatty completed the tournament with his best score, an even-par 72 that featured matching 36s on both nines.
After posting a 74 in the opening round, he followed with a 75 before settling into a more balanced performance Tuesday.
His final 18 included birdies at the par-5 third and par-4 11th holes, helping him finish at 221 (+5).
LeMatty earned a share of 20th place, joining Maryville's Louie Mortimer-Martinsen and Kentucky Wesleyan's Jonathan Kaminski.
TRISTAN TRAUSTASON | T-23RD | 222 (+6)
Rounds: 75 (+3) | 74 (+2) | 73 (+1)
Tristan Traustason improved by exactly one stroke in each round, producing one of the steadiest scoring progressions among McKendree's competitors.
He opened with a 75, trimmed that to 74 in the second round and completed his tournament with a 73.
His middle round featured an eagle at the par-5 18th hole, while his final-round 35 on the front nine included birdies at the first, second and ninth.
Traustason's 222 (+6) placed him in a tie for 23rd alongside teammate Matthew Delanty and Quincy's Logan Smith.
AIDAN O'KEEFE | T-31ST | 226 (+10)
Rounds: 74 (+2) | 78 (+6) | 74 (+2)
Aidan O'Keefe bookended his tournament with matching two-over-par 74s, each featuring a one-under-par 35 on the back nine.
He opened with a 39 on the front before recovering over the final nine holes, then posted a 78 in the second round.
Tuesday brought a return to his opening-round form, as another 39-35 split allowed him to finish with a 74.
O'Keefe placed tied for 31st at 226 (+10), sharing the position with Upper Iowa's Dylan Burns.
HARRIS MUNRO | T-33RD | 227 (+11)
Rounds: 70 (-2) | 76 (+4) | 81 (+9)
Harris Munro made an early statement with a two-under-par 70, the lowest opening-round score among McKendree's B Team golfers.
His first nine holes included birdies at the first and ninth, helping him turn in 34. He added another at the 14th and one at the 18th to finish two under par.
Munro was unable to maintain that pace over the remaining rounds, recording a 76 followed by an 81.
Nevertheless, his opening 70 was an important contribution to the B Team's first-round 290.
He completed the tournament tied for 33rd at 227 (+11).
MCKENDREE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANTS
Three additional Bearcats competed at Far Oaks outside the A and B Team scoring lineups.
KYLE PECK | T-47TH | 236 (+20)
Rounds: 75 (+3) | 81 (+9) | 80 (+8)
Kyle Peck recorded his best score in the opening round, finishing with a three-over-par 75.
He played the back nine at even par, including a birdie at the par-4 12th hole, before following with rounds of 81 and 80.
Peck's 236 (+20) placed him in a tie for 47th alongside Quincy's Konnor Craven and Kentucky Wesleyan's Andrew Noble.
PE NONTARUX | T-53RD | 242 (+26)
Rounds: 85 (+13) | 80 (+8) | 77 (+5)
Pe Nontarux steadily improved throughout the tournament, taking five strokes off his opening 85 in the second round before lowering his score another three strokes in the finale.
His final-round 77 included a 38 on the front nine and a 39 on the back, giving him his best 18-hole performance of the event.
Nontarux finished tied for 53rd at 242 (+26).
QUENTIN MEYER | 55TH | 250 (+34)
Rounds: 82 (+10) | 82 (+10) | 86 (+14)
Quentin Meyer posted matching 82s in his first two rounds, each featuring a 39 on the front nine and a 43 on the back.
His second round included birdies at both the par-3 sixth and eighth holes, providing a pair of bright spots during the middle portion of the tournament.
Meyer closed with an 86, finishing 55th at 250 (+34).
A FINAL ROUND TO REMEMBER
While Wisconsin-Parkside and Maryville ultimately shared the team championship at 858 (-6), McKendree's final-round performance was the most impressive of the tournament.
The Bearcats entered Tuesday's last 18 holes at 11 over par, having recorded rounds of 292 (+4) and 295 (+7).
Then came the 276.
Meiby's 66, Wu's 69, Delanty's 70 and Renken's 71 combined for a 12-under-par team score, six strokes better than the next-lowest team round of the event.
It was enough to vault McKendree into a tie for third with Quincy at 863 (-1), five strokes behind the co-champions.
Illinois Springfield finished fifth at 874 (+10), followed by McKendree's B Team at 881 (+17). Lincoln (MO), Kentucky Wesleyan and Upper Iowa completed the standings.
But as the sun began to disappear over Far Oaks, the lasting image wasn't simply a number on a leaderboard.
It was a group of Bearcats making their way across the course, eager to see a teammate finish something special.
Bortolotti had already delivered a championship for the women's program. Minutes later, Meiby added another individual title for the men, completing an afternoon that gave McKendree golf two medalists and a pair of celebrations worth remembering.
And with the men's A Team producing the finest closing round in the field, there was plenty more to appreciate.
For a program playing on its home course, it was quite an afternoon to be a Bearcat.
