The Washburn Ichabod golfers drove themselves back into the winner’s circle with a win at the Washburn Invitational played at the Topeka Country Club, March 26-27.

Washburn finished with a 5-over 573 for a 17-stroke win over Central Missouri and Washburn’s own ‘B’ team. Leading the way for the Ichabods were Matt Ewald, sophomore, and Matt Lazzo, freshman transfer. They carded 1-under 141s, good enough for second place and just two strokes behind first.

“It was nice, we’ve been playing so crappy to say the least coming into this,” said Ryan Deutsch, junior who finished with a 3-over 144, good enough for seventh place. “It was one that you hopefully expect to win, playing in our home tournament.”

Prior to the win, they had not played well in their first three tournaments of the spring season, but the Ichabods were still able to defend their Washburn Invitational title from two years ago. For Washburn, it was win number five, its first of the spring season.

The victory also extended Washburn’s MIAA conference lead to five points over Central Missouri, 24-19. Missouri Western is in third with 17.

Washburn ended the first day of action with a 16-stroke lead. Ewald and Lazzo were tied in first with 4-under rounds of 67.

“The first day everybody played pretty solid,” said Deutsch, who was four back of the lead after the first day. “We went out and put up a good number. That pretty much sealed the deal right there.

“The second day, I think everybody was a little disappointed with how they played. Matt and Matt were tied for the lead and had a chance to win it. A couple of other guys were right there close, but everybody just played so-so. That was kind of disappointing, but it was nice to get a win.”

In addition to Ewald, Lazzo and Deutsch, Washburn finished four others in the top 15. John Robbins, junior, finished in a tie for eighth place with a score of 4-over par, and Taylor Dunham, senior, finished in a tie for 15th place at 7-over par.

Sam Wempe, junior, and Dan Hersch, junior, finished fourth and sixth overall, respectively, for Washburn’s ‘B’ team.

“Individually, I think most of us were trying to win it,” said Deutsch. “Unfortunately, nobody did.”

Next up for the Ichabods will be the Missouri Southern Invitational today and tomorrow at the Loma Linda Country Club in Joplin, Mo.

“It’ll be pretty much the same field, plus I’m sure there will be a few teams from out of conference that will come and play,” said Deutsch. “But if we go in and play well, we should be able to take care of business.”

The Missouri Southern Invitational will be the fourth of five MIAA tournaments. Washburn has won the previous three MIAA tournaments of the season.