When it comes to successful men's sports, the Otterbein men's golf team is unparalleled.
They have won 10 of the last 18 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships (OAC). But that was also with Andy Miller.
"You can't really recover from losing the best golfer in Otterbein history," said junior captain Heath Trabue. "Andy Miller can flat out play."
Miller, a four-time All-American, and the division three winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award (the Heisman Trophy of golf), finished tied for second at the NCAA Division III National Championship last year.
Miller wasn't the only player lost last year. Matt Collins is playing professional golf down south.
Even with the loss of great players, the Cardinals have won their last two tournaments.
On Saturday the Cardinals won the OAC tournament at River Greens Golf Course in West Layfayette.
Junior Mike Ruffing led the way for the Cardinals shooting 74, 73, 73, finishing tied for second with a seven-over-par 220.
Senior Ty Lucas shot 71, 74, 76 and tied for fourth along with freshman Adam Green.
Senior Grant Smith finished tied for 12th and freshman Alex Stansell rounded out the scoring by tying for 42nd.
The win is especially impressive because Trabue was out with an injury.
"We knew we had to grind hard going in," said Ruffing. "So every shot counts."
Weather was also a factor in the tournament. "We did a great job of keeping that mind set, making sure we didn't let the weather bother us," said Ruffing.
The men's golf team will be playing at Ohio Northern this Saturday through Sunday at Colonial Golf Club.
The Otterbein women's golf team is also winning. The Cardinals have won their last three tournaments
The first win was April 5 at the Capital Purple and White Invitational at the Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne.
Freshman Catherine Brunoehler and junior Rustie Anderson finished the tournament tied for third with a 22-over-par 166.
Junior Natalie King placed fifth, shooting 14-over-par 167. Sophomore Kelly Butler and senior Emily White tied for sixth shooting 168.
The Cardinals came out on top once again at the Ohio Northern Invitational April 12 at the Colonial Golf Club in Harrod.
Brunoehler again led the Cardinals and finished second overall, shooting a nine-over-par 81.
Anderson finished in forth with an 86. The third win came Tuesday at the Wittenberg Invitational in Springfield.
The Cardinals placed one, two, three with Brunoehler, King and White. The team finished the tournament with an overall score of 329.
In second place was NAIA school Malone College. Their scholarship golfers shot 358.
With all of the great finishes Brunoehler was named the OAC's Golfer of the Week. Brunoehler is also leading the OAC with an 82.2 stroke average. Anderson is third with 83.2 average.
The Cardinals are in action again Sunday at the Wilmington Invitational.t&c;
