The Redbird men’s golf team wrapped up its season in fifth place with a team score of 904 (299-301-304) at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships, following five-year defending champs Wichita State with a score of 877 (288-293-296).

In the final round Tuesday in Hutchinson, Kan., the Redbirds picked up the pace from Monday’s first and second round, and finished in fifth place at the par-70, 6,598 yard Prairie Dunes Country Club.

However, head coach Ray Kralis felt his team could have done better.

“It’s a disappointing end to a disappointing season,” Kralis said. “I had higher expectations for this Championship and the season as a whole, and it feels like we fell short of our potential.

“I know the guys gave their best, but while we improved through the year, we just didn’t execute when it mattered most.”

Wils Hawn led the ’Birds and finished in a tie for 10th place scoring a 13-over-par 223 (71-76-76). Finished in a tie for 14th, Ricky Hearden carded a 15-over-par 225 (74-74-77). He was followed by Matt Solis who tallied a score of 18-over-par 228 (76-74-78). 

Parker Freiburg tied in 18th with a 19-over-par 229 (78-77-74) and Eric Meier finished the championship in 35th carding a 24-over-par 234 (78-79-77).

After being picked in the coach’s poll to finish in third, the Redbirds fell two spots for a fifth-place finish.

“The winds picked up the last round and we didn’t play as well as we wanted to. We gave it our best effort and came up two shots short of third,” Freiburg said. “There were a lot of positives from the team and I know we will have the motivation to get back on top of things this fall.” 

Daily Vidette Archive Photo: ISU junior Ricky Hearden finished tied for 14th at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships. The ‘Birds concluded their season in fifth place with a score of 904 (299-301-304).

The 54-hole championship began Monday with the ’Birds tallying an overall score of 600 in the first two rounds, placing them in seventh. Wichita State jumped out to a 581(288-293) lead. 

“The first two rounds we had Monday, there were light winds and the course was scoreable as long as you kept it in play,” ISU’s Parker Freiburg said. “It was a tough day for us but Wils had a great first round that kept us in the hunt.”

With a posted score of seven-over-par 147 (71-76), Hawn led the Redbirds after  the first day, which placed him in a tie for 8th.

Tied for 11th, was Hearden with an 8-over-par 148 (74-74). Solis followed him with a tallied score of 10-over-par 150 (76-74), placing him in a tie for 18th.

Freiberg tied for 31st with a carded score of 15-over-par 155 (78-77) and Meier ended day one with a tallied score of 17-over-par 157 (78-79).

“We can learn much from this adversity, and I don’t want to miss those lessons,” Kralis said. “Starting with me, we need to get better, and preparation for next season has already started.”