With an overall score of 871, the Oakland University men’s golf team won the Bearcat Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 12. It was the team’s first tournament win since the Bellarmine Intercollegiate in March 2007. Their team score of 871 (7-over par) also ranks as the seventh-lowest 54-hole score in school history.

“I am so proud of the guys,” said head coach Brian Costello in a statement.”We have been close before, but we finally closed the deal. This program has come a long way over the past three years and it is all due to the hard work and dedication of this group. I expect us to continue to work hard and be ready for our league championship in the spring. We know we can win and that is a big part of being successful.”

Two OU golfers posted top-10 scores to lead the team to the long-awaited victory.??Over his final two rounds of golf, junior Michael Coriasso shot even par (73-71) to finish in a sixth-place tie on the par 72 course. Sophomore Jakob Ziegler shot one over par in his second and third rounds (73-73), ending in a tie for eigth place.??After the second round ended on Tuesday morning, OU was leading by three shots. They ended holding off Northern Illinois University (873/+9) by two shots.

After posting a score of 83 in his first 18 holes, senior Travis Peitz recovered with scores of 73 and 74 in the final two rounds.

After shooting a 2-under par 70 in the first round, sophomore Phil Gieseker, a transfer from Ohio University, ended his tournament with two rounds of 75 scores. Gieseker finished with a 3-round score of 220, leaving him in a tie for 15th place.

OU will face off against the University of Detroit Mercy Titans this Friday, Oct. 15 in an 18-hole dual match. It will take place at the Detroit Golf Club with a 2 p.m. tee-off time.