INDIANAPOLIS -- Berry Jole revved up his engine, turned on the competitive juices and made a second-day charge, and the Bucs were equal to the task as Bary University men's golf team won the Brickyard Invitational Tuesday, beating out defending NCAA Division II national champ Nova Southeastern by five strokes.
No. 2-ranked Barry, which trailed No. 1 Nova by six strokes entering the final round of the 54-hole event on the 7,180-yard par-72 Brickyard Crossing course, shot a final-round 290 to finish at 7-under 857. Nova shot 301 Tuesday to finish five strokes behind the Bucs.
Jole, who came into the final round trailing Nova's Ben Taylor. the 2012 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, by five strokes, shot 69 to conclude the season's first event. Jole, a 6-foot-6 sophomore from Netherlands, ripped off a tournament-best 20 birdies and had one eagle to claim his first career individual title in the 84-player field hosted by the University of Indianapolis.
"I felt good with my swing," Jole said. "I just had so much confidence because I was hitting the ball well. Last night, I said to my roommate, Jared, 'I'm gonna catch him tomorrow.' I felt good. He was the No. 1 player in the country. I knew where I had to be today."
Taylor finished second a stroke behind Jole.
Jole birdied the third hole, making up two strokes after Taylor bogeyed.
"From that moment, I knew I could catch him," Jole said.
On the 545-yard par-5 sixth, Jole clobbered a long drive before using a six-iron to strike it within from 230 yards to within six feet of the cup. Jole sank the eagle putt to draw even with Taylor. On the 7th hole, Jole made birdie to take a one stroke lead. After bogeying the ninth, Jole and Taylor entered the turn tied.
Jole birdied the 15th to take a one-stroke lead again before bogeying 16 and 17 to fall a stroke behind Taylor. On the 18th, Jole knocked his 220-yard fairway shot from the right side to within eight feet of the pin. He birdied the hole, and Taylor settled for a bogey, giving Jole the medalist honor.
"I was pretty steady," Jole said. "I was a little disappointed about (falling behind on 16 and 17), but Coach (Jimmy Stobs) said, 'You can still get him.' I was happy I could lift the team up a little bit."
Western Washington was third as a team, shooting 8-over 872. Cal State Monterey Bay was fourth at 883 and Southwestern Oklahoma State fifth at 892.
Barry senior Marcus Segerstrom tied for seventh at even-par 216 after shooting 75 in the third round. Junior teammate Scott Smyers tied for ninth at 1-over 217. Smyers shot 73 in the final round. Bucs newcomer Jared Dalga tied for 18th at 6-over 222, following his concluding round 73. Junior Marcelo Huarte tied for 48th at 14-over 230. Huarte shot 79 Tuesday.
"We were confident as a team," Jole said. "We had a meeting after the first night. We just said we needed to have good course management."
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Berry Jole (Barry), Ben Taylor (Nova Southeastern), Taylor Howie (Southwestern Oklahoma), Jake Webb (Western Washington), Dylan Goodwin (Western Washington), Jered Stone (Cal State Monterey Bay).