SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. (April 23, 2019) – Sophomore Devin Johnson finished in sole-possession of 13^th place as the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team brought its 2018-19 season to an end this afternoon at the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship in Sunrise Beach, Mo.
 
The Ramblers closed the 54-hole event at The Club at Porto Cima (par 72, 7,060 yards) in eighth place with a 922 (306-301-315), coming in just a shot back of Drake (306-309-306=921) for seventh.  Southern Illinois finished with a sparkling seven-under-par 859 (291-287-281), besting pre-championship favorite Illinois State (285-292-292=869) to claim The Valley title and the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.
 
"We obviously didn't play our best golf today," Loyola head men's golf coach Erik Hoops said.  "Nonetheless, the guys never quit and I know we are going to learn a lot from this experience.  I'm still very proud of the strides that we made this season as a team, and am really looking forward to the future with this program.  We were led by some underclassmen, which shows we are ready to keep competing for years to come."
 
For the second time in as many days, Johnson turned in the low round for the Maroon & Gold.  The Geneva, Ill. product recorded a pair of birdies on the back nine en route to a three-over-par 75 that saw him close play with the aforementioned 13^th-place finish at 223 (72-76-75).  Fellow sophomore Tyler Anderson narrowly missed out on joining Johnson in the top 20, as he checked in tied for 22^nd with a 230 (75-74-81) following a final-round 81.
 
Junior Justin LaFrance wrapped up his run of three straight rounds in the 70s with a 79 that saw him tie for 33^rd at 234 (79-76-79), while freshman Nate Vance closed out his postseason debut in 39^th after recording an 83 to finish the event at 238 (80-75-83).  Senior Orion Yamat wrapped up his collegiate career with an 80 to come in 43^rd with a 243 (82-81-80).
 
"I cannot thank the seniors enough for how they led this year," Hoops concluded.  "My main goal was to have them leave this program in a better spot than they entered it, and we definitely succeeded in that regard.  I know they are going to have very successful futures."
 
Hoops is expected to return six letterwinners in 2019-20, including four of the team's top five leaders in stroke average.