CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Senior Alex Easthom fired the only sub-par round of the tournament here Tuesday as the West Liberty University men's golf team mounted a late charge to win the Mountain East Conference Spring Classic at Berry Hills Country Club.
    Easthom, a 3-time NCAA Division II All-Region selection and the 2021 MEC Player of the Year, led the way for Coach Thadd Obecny's Black and Gold on Tuesday. The Ravenswood, W.Va. native carded five birdies on his way to posting a 2-under-par 68 at the rolling 6,345-yard, par-70 layout.
    Easthom finished with a two-day total of 1-over-par 141, two shots better than runner-up Tyler Patterson (71-72--143) of Charleston and five shots clear of WLU teammate and fellow senior Howard Peterson IV, who finished third in the medal chase at 6-over-par 146.
    Led by their 1-2 punch at the top of the leaderboard, the Hilltoppers shot a 295 on Tuesday to take the team title by the narrowest of margins. Davis & Elkins settled for second place just one shot back at 607 with first-round leader Charleston slipping to third at 608.
    Many of the same teams will be in action on Monday when the West Liberty Invitational gets under way on the Palmer Course at Oglebay Resort.
       1. WEST LIBERTY 606; 2. Davis & Elkins 607; 3. Charleston 608; 4. Glenville State 621; 5. Notre Dame (Ohio) 628; 6. Fairmont State (637); 7. Concord 642; 8. Wheeling 651; 9. W.Va. Wesleyan 675; 10. W.Va. State 710
West Liberty Individuals
     141: Alex Easthom (73-68)
     146: Howard Peterson IV (75-71)
     159: Noah Seivertson (83-76)
     160: Derek Graham (80-80)
     168: Bo Orecchio (84-84)