BOULDER CITY, Nev. (March 12, 2022) – Led by an impressive effort from graduate student Devin Johnson, the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team turned in one of the top team rounds of the day to wrap up its stay at the Jackrabbit Invitational in Boulder City, Nev.
 
Competing at the Boulder Creek Golf Club (par 72, 7,402 yards), the Ramblers fired a final-round 289, tying for the third lowest team total of the afternoon as all five members of the Maroon & Gold's lineup posted their top individual rounds of the last two days. 
 
Loyola closed the event in eighth place with an 894 (300-305-289), finishing only a stroke back of Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa (7^th; 293-302-298=893).  The Panthers' Griffin Parker (72-70-70), South Dakota State's Ty Kretz (74-70-68), and Eastern Kentucky's Willis Gaer (69-73-70) shared individual medalist honors after each carded a four-under-par 212.
 
"I was happy to see a decent round from us today," Loyola head men's golf coach Erik Hoops stated.  "The key to these trips in February and March is to see how your game is looking coming out of the winter.  It was close to being a decent week.  We just need to clean up some of our scoring clubs, which is hard to do in the winter."
 
Johnson put together a scintillating final round just outside of Las Vegas.  The Geneva, Ill. native played the back nine at three-under-par and put up a team-best five birdies on the day as part of a two-under-par 70.  Johnson's effort saw him climb into a tie for 18^th place with a six-over-par 222 (72-80-70).
 
The pairing of juniors Zach Walsh and Timmy Crawford finished hot on Johnson's heels, each earning spots in the top 25.  Like Johnson, Walsh competed the back nine at two-under-par en route to an even-par round of 72 that secured him 23^rd at 223 (75-76-72).  Crawford was just a stroke back of that tally, sharing 24^th at 224 (76-75-73) following a final-round one-over-par 73 that featured a two-under-par front nine.
 
Graduate student Ryan Magee and Tyler Anderson both handed in two-over-par 74s.  Magee, who completed the front nine at one-under-par, shared 40^th with a 227 (77-76-74), while Anderson totaled a 230 (78-78-74) for the event, tying for 45^th.
 
"Thankfully, it looks like spring is coming this week in Chicago and we can start practicing out on grass," Hoops added.  "I feel we're in a good spot for this final stretch run to the MVC Championship at the end of next month."
 
Loyola returns to the Midwest when it visits Springfield, Mo. for the Twin Oaks Intercollegiate, March 21-22.