Cats Finish Second in BU Cup
FRANKLIN, Ky. -The BU Cup is the annual September golf match between Bethel University and Brescia University. The Cup has been contested since 2011 and was instituted to commemorate both institutions growth to University status.
The inaugural event was a draw; the two subsequent matches were won by Bethel, so for the first three years of the series the Brescia Bearcats were winless. Bethel's three year undefeated streak in the Cup matches ended Monday, at Kenny Perry's Country Creek Golf Course in Franklin, Kentucky with the Bearcats handing the Wildcats an 8 points to 5 points defeat.
The BU Cup has, from its inception, been contested in some form of match play. This year's match play format had a new twist as four better- ball matches were added to the eight individual matches accounting for 12 points. All competitors played through eighteen holes regardless of match outcome and no strokes were conceded so the players each produced a bona fide eighteen-hole score. The eight player's scores were added to produce a team aggregate which created a 13th point.
Bethel was led by Zach Deason (So.) from Houston County, who shot one under par 71; he won his individual match 6 and 5, and partnered with Blake McWilliams (Sr.) from Lexington to win their team match 1 up. Senior Grant Frazier of Jackson was the other undefeated Wildcat, winning his individual match 3 and 1 and partnering with Rob Gray, sophomore from McEwen, to win their team match 1 up. Bethel's fifth and final point was captured by sophomore Tony Robinson and senior Colton Keen who teamed to win their four-ball match 1 up.
The weather and course conditions were superb and the match was closely contested until the final hole when the Brescia senior pair of Will McKenzie and Chase Carrico swept three points and erased a nine stroke deficit to secure the point for low aggregate. Eight Brescia golfers shot a combined total of 615 to best the Wildcat's 616 and win the 13th point. Senior Shane Peden of Humboldt played well shooting a one over par 73 though and going 0-2 in match play. Brescia's Will McKenzie was the medalist with a total of two under par 70.