THE BASICS 
The Drake University Men's golf team will travel to the Country Club of Paducah, in Paducah, Ky. (par-72, 7,014-yard) for the 2022 Missouri Valley Championship. Teams will play 54 holes in three days, with the first round teeing off on Sunday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m.(CT). The second round will begin on Monday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m. (CT). Concluding with the final round on Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30 a.m. (CT) with teams starting on split tees. 
 
THE FIELD
All nine MVC teams will participate in the championship with the number one seed being held by the 2021 MVC runner-ups, Illinois State Redbirds, receiving six first place votes. The Redbirds are led by senior Joseph Hodgson, who is first on Illinois State with a 73.2 stroke average. Hodgson finished one under at the Hawkeye Invitational on April 17 and has recorded a low 67 twice this season. 
 
Right behind the Redbirds stands the Southern Illinois Salukis who had the league's best team statistical ranking, with an average team score of 4.50 strokes over par. Senior Matthis Besard has been a crucial part in the Salukis success. Besard leads the MVC in GolfStat for wins with four individual wins, a stroke average of 70.2, and shot a season low 64 earlier this season. 
 
Receiving one first place vote, the Valparaiso Beacons are a balanced attack. Junior Caleb VanArragon has put together some of his best golf in the past 12 tournaments. VanArragon has placed in the top-10 nine times, top-5 eight times, including five top-2 performances with two wins. According to GolfStat, VanArragon is second in the MVC with a stroke average of 71.19 and shot a round low 67. VanArragon was named the MVC Player of the Week on April 21, marking the sixth time this season he has received the honor. For the third consecutive season, VanArragon is looking to set the single-season scoring average record. 
 
BULLDOGS READY TO BATTLE
Through ten tournaments the Drake Bulldogs are in second according to GolfStat with an average score versus par of 5.74. Drake leads the Missouri Valley with two wins this season and is coming off of placing 13th in the Hawkeye Invitational.  
 
Graduate Student Tim Lim earned medalist honors with his impressive season shooting a team-best 71.4 stroke average. Lim has been consistent with two top-5 finishes including a second place finish at the ODU/OBX Invitational in Powells Point, North Carolina on Oct. 24-26. Lim has earned MVC Golfer of the Week honors twice this season. 
 
Lim was not the lone Bulldog to earn medalist honors as junior Nick Pittman showed great growth from his sophomore year. Pittman would burst onto the scene with a stand-out performance at the Loyola Intercollegiate on February 20-22 where he shot 211 (-5) thru three rounds sinking 11 birdies and three eagles.