HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- The University of Evansville golf team came within one stroke of fourth place Tuesday in the final round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship at Prairie Dunes Golf Club.

Evansville's team score of 302 today was second only to the 298 shot by tournament champion Wichita State. However, the Aces' hopes for a fourth place finish came up one stroke shy, as Drake took fourth with a 54-hole team total of 949 while UE finished fifth at 950.

Sophomore Michael Sainz just missed making the all-conference team, finishing eighth in the field of 45 golfers with a 4-over-par 74 today and 233 for the tournament. Classmate Griffin Wood was Evansville's best today with a 73, putting him 16th overall at 238. Wichita State's Dustin Garza, ranked among the top six players in the country this season, won the tournament at 13-over-par 223. His 70 today was the only round of the tournament at even par or better. The MVC Tournament was the final one of 2009-10 for the Aces.

"With the wind the way it was, especially Monday, this was a wicked golf course," said UE Coach Jim Hamilton. "Our goal was to finish in the top four, but I'm very pleased with our guys. We're not far away from being at the top. With everyone returning next season except our team captain, Christian Poling, we have a chance to be pretty good if the players work on their games this summer."

TEAM SCORES: 1. Wichita State 922; 2. Southern Illinois 933; 3. Illinois State 944; 4. Drake 949; 5. Evansville 950; 6. Missouri State 957; 7. Creighton 966; 8. Northern Iowa 972; 9. Bradley 973.

UE SCORES: T8. Michael Sainz 82-77-74=233; T16. Griffin Wood 81-84-73=238; T30. Christian Poling 83-86-77=246; 33. Tim Simmons 80-79-88=247; 34. Andrew Luo 88-82-78=248.

Medalist: Dustin Garza, Wichita State, 78-75-70=223