JOPLIN, Mo. - The Kirkwood men's golf team captured the NJCAA DII  National Preview Tuesday by 24 shots at the Twin Hills Golf and County  Club.

The third-ranked Eagles finished with a 54-hole score of 893, leaving  Mississippi Gulf Coast far behind in second place at 917.

Ben Epperly of Kirkwood lost a playoff for medalist honors to Jon  Hopkins of Mississippi Gulf Coast. Epperly and Hopkins tied at  1-under-par 215, but Hopkins prevailed on the third hole of the  playoff. Epperly fired rounds of 70, 71 and 74.

Jacob Harrington-Wara, James Morgan and Sebastian Carranza of Kirkwood  all tied for fifth place at 11-over 227.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Kirkwood 893, 2. Mississippi Gulf Coast 917, 3. Mesa 927, 4. DMACC  932, 5. North Central Missouri 947, 6. Iowa Lakes 949, 7. Southeast  981, 8. Hesston 1000, 9. Hawkeye 1011, 10. Mineral Area 1048.

KIRKWOOD - 2. Ben Epperly 70-71-74=215, 5. Jacob Harrington-Wara  79-75-73=227, 5. James Morgan 75-75-77=227, 5. Sebastian Carranza  76-75-76=227, 21. Sterling McIlravy 76-78-83=237.