Chargers’ Picken wraps up national tournament with strong closing stretch

JOPLIN, Mo. — Sandburg men's golf sophomore Tyler Picken closed out his Chargers career on a strong note.

Highlighted by an under-par closing stretch, Picken finished tied for 75th at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship on Friday at Twin Hills.

After posting a 9-over 81 in Tuesday's first round, Picken put together three straight rounds in the 70s to wrap up the 72-hole tournament. He carded 78s in the second and third rounds before a final-round 79 for a 316 total.

After making one birdie in the first three rounds, Picken put four birdies on the scorecard in his final 15 holes of the tournament, including three on the back nine. His birdies on the 13th and 14th holes Friday kicked off a closing stretch in which he was 2 under for the last six holes.

Picken qualified for nationals by placing third at the Region 4 Championship in April. His appearance at Twin Hills marked the 12th year in a row and 16th time in the last 17 seasons that Sandburg men's golf has advanced an individual or qualified as a team to the national tournament.

With weather delaying the start of the second round, a cut was made to the 131-player field at the conclusion of 36 holes. Picken was among the 103 players who made the cut.

Kirkwood's Grant Greazel was the national champion with a score of 3 under for the week. He finished five shots ahead of teammate Nathan Bratanata and Mississippi Gulf Coast's Peyton Russell. Mississippi Gulf Coast won the team championship, finishing 18 over par and holding off Kirkwood by three shots.

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