The Bluffton golf team finished a strong third in the nine-team Northwest Conference championship tournament Friday, Septemberr 24, at Moose Landing Country Club in Ottawa.

Lincolnview beat NWC regular season champ Allen East by 10 strokes, 338-348, to win the league tournament crown.

Bluffton was a close third (349), followed by Columbus Grove (367), Leipsic (368), Delphos Jefferson (385), Ada (411) and Crestview (417). Spencerville did not have a team score.

Lancer Evan Miller was NWC tournament medalist with an 18-hole score of 79. Zach Miller of Allen East finished second with a round of 82. 

Columbus Grove's Isaac Ricker took third at 83. 

Bluffton senior Kenny Lovett posted an 84 to tie for fourth place with Mason Brandt of Leipsic and Lincolnview's Landon Price.

The NWC meet was postponed by rain and generally inclement conditions Thursday.

AE and Lincolnview tied for first in the combined NWC golf standings with 17 points apiece. Grove and Bluffton tied for third with 13 points each. Fifth-place Leipsic scored 10, and Delphos Jeff tallied eight.

In regular season league play, AE finished first at 15-1 while Lincolnview went 12-2 to come in second. Bluffton was 11-5 and Columbus Grove finished 10-4 to end up in a tie for third. 

The Pirates play in the Division III sectional tournament at Sycamore Springs Golf Course Thursday, September 30. Lovett finished fifth last year individually, and the Pirate team came in fourth last year at the SSGC sectionals.