The Malone University men's golf team wrapped up the Ohio Independent Championships Tuesday at the par-72 Apple Valley Golf Course in Howard, Ohio.  The Pioneers finished with a final tally of 573 (291-282), which was 38 strokes better than second-place Cedarville University, which posted a score of 611 (312-299).  Walsh University and Urbana University rounded out the standings by finishing third and fourth, respectively, with scores of 627 (313-314) and 642 (318-324).

Leading the Pioneers over the two-day period was Jay Hollifield, who fired a combined 141 over both rounds, which was good enough for first among the entire field of golfers. Hollified carded a 70 on the first day and followed that up with a 71 over the final round.  Not far behind in second place overall was Ryan Headley as he tallied a 143 (75-68), pocketing a very impressive 68 on day two of the tournament.  Tyler Light placed third overall at 144 (72-72), Nathan Tarter posted a 146 (74-72) to finish fifth, and Jon Clark came in sixth overall at 150 (79-71).  By virtue of their top-five finishes, Hollifield, Headley, Light and Tarter were named to the All-OIC All-Tournament Team.

For the first time in the history of the program, the team finished in first place at every tournament in which they participated that season, as they posted a perfect 6-0 record this spring.  The closest Malone had ever come to doing this came during the 2000 season, the year they won the NAIA National Championship.  That season, they recorded a 9-1 record in tournaments, with their only loss coming by a single stroke.