CAPE GIRARDEAU - Junior Julian Taylor won the individual event for the second straight year in directing the Owls to a comfortable 39-stroke victory at the American Midwest Conference championships Tuesday.
William Woods University - which finished the spring season undefeated (7-0) for the first time in head coach Barry Doty's tenure - advances to the NAIA national championships May 13-16 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Owls captured the AMC team title with a three-round 881 total (303-229-286) to pull away from second-place Missouri Baptist University (920), last year's champion. Hannibal-LaGrange University (931) came in third, Columbia College fourth (939), Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University fifth (972), Lyon (Ark.) College sixth (977), and Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) seventh (982).
Taylor - tabbed as AMC player of the year for the third year in a row - sparked William Woods with a 1-under par 215 (76-70-69) to secure the individual championship. Freshman teammate David Houlding was four shots back in second place with a 219 (75-72-72), while freshman Billy McKenzie took third with a 222 (71-74-77).
Another freshman, Matt Wells, came in fifth with a 226 (81-76-69), and senior Chris Martin tied for 13th with a 235 (81-78-76).
McKenzie was chosen the conference's freshman of the year, senior Monty Lack - a transfer - was selected newcomer of the year and Doty was named coach of the year. Senior Andrew Davis joined Taylor, McKenzie, Houlding, Wells, Lack and Martin on the all-AMC team.