DECATUR, Ill. – The Parkland College golf team completed a come-from-behind win at the Country Club Classic on Monday, September 26th as the Cobras combined for a two-round score of 584 at the par-71 South Side Country Club in Decatur, Illinois, one stroke better than second place Milikin University. Individually, Parkland sophomore Matthew Barker caught fire in the second round, shooting a 2-under 69 to pull ahead of the pack and win the tournament by one stroke with a score of 143. Freshman Zarak Curley produced the best finish of his young Cobra career, finishing in a three-way tie for second place after shooting 144 (+2), and returning First Team All-American Dain Richie placed 5th with a 145 (+3).
 
"I couldn't be more proud of my guys for fighting back after a difficult first round to get the win," head coach Corbin Sebens boasted after the win. "I challenged our guys after the first round, and they responded with a lot of fight, heart and grit to bounce back in round two. Competing against all four-year schools was a good test for us. I am so happy for Matt to get his first college win."
 
The Cobras trailed the hosts, Milikin University, by five strokes after the first round on Monday, but the team's best golf was ahead of them as four of the five golfers competing for Parkland College improved their score in the second round. Barker led the Cobras' comeback with a 69 in the second round, tied for the lowest round of the tournament, but it was a full team effort to pull off the one-stroke victory. Sophomore Roo Fenwick put together a consistent afternoon of golf, shooting two rounds of 77 for a final score of 154, good for T18. Freshman Michael Addie rounded out the scoring for the Cobras, placing T28 with a two-round score of 159. Four Parkland golfers competed individually and finished in the top 20, including freshman Bobby Rothery-Archer who sat in third place after an opening round of 70. Rothery Archer finished in a tie for 8th after a 77 in the second round gave him a final score of 147, two strokes ahead of fellow Parkland freshman Lucas Park in 11th place. Kegan Niles (+9, 151) and Jack Sciaudone (+12, 154) also competed individually, showing the depth of the Parkland golf roster early in the season.
 
Up next, the Cobras will wrap up their fall season by competing in the M-WAC Conference Championship on Monday, October 3rd at the Danville Country Club in Danville, Illinois. Parkland will be looking to repeat as conference champions for the sixth year in a row.
 
Team Leaderboard
Player Leaderboard
 
Team Results
1          Parkland College                    +16      297+287=584
2          Milikin University                  +17      292+293=585
3          Illinois Wesleyan (B)              +28      305+291=596
4          Illinois Wesleyan (C)              +40      304+304=608
5          Milikin University (B)            +48      318+298=616
 
Parkland Individual Results
1          Matthew Barker                      +1        74+69=143
T2        Zarak Curley                           +2        73+71=144
5          Dain Richie                             +3        73+72=145
T8        Bobby Rothery-Archer*         +5        70+77=147
11        Lucas Park*                            +7        74+75=149
T12      Kegan Niles*                          +9        75+76=151
T18      Roo Fenwick                           +12      77+77=154
T18      Jack Sciaudone*                     +12      76+78=154
T28      Michael Addie                        +17      84+75=159
 
*Athlete competed individually