Hutchins wins title as Storm best field at own invitational

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Andy Hutchins battled windy conditions to fire an even-par 71, earning medalist honors as the Simpson men's golf team won its own invitational at Indianola Country Club on Tuesday.

Simpson's varsity squad shot 305 as a team, finishing 18 strokes ahead of second-place William Penn. Nine squads and 54 individuals competed in the one-day tournament that marked the beginning of the spring season for the Storm.

Although it was warm and sunny – not always a guarantee this early in the season - winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour made play at Indianola CC's 6,369-yard layout a challenge.

Shaan Desai shot a 4-over 75 to place third and Trent Lindenman tied for fifth with a 7-over 78. Marshall Kray (9-over 80) tied for eighth and Nick Hartman (10-over 81) tied for 10th, giving the Storm five players in the top 10.

Consistency was the theme for Hutchins, who made par on 14 holes, birdied two and made two bogies to take home his second career win. The first came at the 2014 Simpson Spring Invitational when he shot 3-over 74 to capture the title.

Desai led the team with three birdies on the day, tying Hutchins with a team-best 35 on the back nine after shooting 40 on the front.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Simpson, 305; 2. William Penn Blue, 323; 3. William Penn, 324; 4. Wis.-Stout, 325; 5. AIB, 337; t6. Buena Vista, 338; t6. Wis.-Stout Blue, 338; 8. Simpson Red, 341; 9. Coe, 354

SIMPSON SCORECARD

1. Andy Hutchins, 71; 3. Shaan Desai, 75; t5. Trent Lindenman, 78; t8. Marshall Kray, 80; t10. Nick Hartman, 81; t21. Korbin Sesker, 83; t21. Mitch Tomlonovic, 83; t25. Nathan Molstead, 84; t33. Jimmy Siebert, 86; t42. Mitchell Brown, 89; t42. Logan Floyd, 89; t42. Chad Moore, 89

UP NEXT

Simpson competes in the Wartburg Spring Invitational on April 10-11 at Centennial Oaks Golf Club in Waverly.

NOTES

Simpson earned its third team win of the season, sweeping its own Fall and Spring Invitationals and winning the Loras Invitational on Sept. 2 … the Storm also placed fourth at the Midwest Region Classic on Sept. 29-30 and fifth at the William Penn Invitational on Oct. 10-11 for five, top-five finishes in seven tries.