Men's Golf Teams Complete NCAA Regionals; BC's Burke Qualifies as Individual for National Trny!
Conference Carolinas men's golfers competed in the NCAA DII Regional Championships that concluded Wednesday. The top five finishing teams, in what was billed as the greatest D-II men's golf tournament ever staged (17 of the 20 teams were ranked in the top 29,) would earn bids to the National Championships. Baton finished tied for 8th, Coker 11th, and Belmont Abbey 17th. BC's Jonathan Burke finished tied for 2nd as an individual and qualifies for the National Championship.
(see teams individual press releases below along with final results)
Bulldogs battle, fall short; Burke finishes 2nd
May 6, 2009
MUSCLE SHOALS, AL - The Barton College golf team's bid to earn a spot in the NCAA D-II National Championship came up short on a stormy Wednesday on the Fighting Joe course at the Robert Trent Jones of the Shoals facility, but senior Jonathan Burke finished as the South/Southeast Super Regional runner-up and earned a individual spot at Nationals.
Burke had the individual lead in the 108-player field late in the final round, but a bogey on No. 18 and a double-bogey on No. 1 (it was a shotgun start) dropped him to second place. His drive wound up against a tree on No. 1 and he had to take an unplayable lie. He narrowly missed making birdie on his last two holes (Nos. 2 and 3), but was proclaimed the Southeast Regional champ (an honor teammate Daniel Castleberry secured last year).
The 29th-ranked Bulldogs started the final round tied for sixth place with 2nd-ranked Georgia College & State University, and just four back of top-ranked Columbus State, who was in fourth place. The top five teams in what was billed as the greatest D-II men's golf tournament ever staged (17 of the 20 teams were ranked in the top 29) would earn bids to the National Championships.
After a three-hour delay for thunderstorms, the teams teed off and played in the rain and wind for nearly three hours before the skies cleared. Barton quickly moved into a tie for fifth with GCSU and even moved into a brief tie for fourth with Columbus State. The Bulldogs and GCSU traded the fifth spot for several hours before the Bobcats went pin-seeking down the stretch and made a handful of birdies to secure the final spot.
Barton, meanwhile, played the No. 1 layout at 7-over and fell from 5th to 8th overall. GCSU was the only team to go under par on Wednesday, firing a 2-under 286 on the 7,126-yard layout. Host North Alabama, ranked 9th, won at +4 overall, edging Lynn University by one shot. Barry University was +10, Columbus State was +11 and GCSU +12. Valdosta State surged to sixth at +16 with an even-par round of 288 for its low four individuals while Florida Southern, ranked 5th, finished 7th at +22, one shot up on Barton and 3rd-ranked Nova Southeastern.
Junior Tom Muto Jr. finished 24th overall for Barton at 72-74-74-220. Sophomore Castleberry birdied two of his final four holes on Wednesday to finish at 77-77-73-227 (T60). Junior Stephen Harrison, who was just +2 with five holes left, struggled over his last five holes and finished at 73-80-79-232 (T85). Junior Taylor Hernandez fired rounds of 81-75-81-237 (T98).
"We duked it out with the best teams in the country in an unbelievably loaded Super Regional and just came up a little bit short," 12th-year Barton head coach John Hackney said. "We made a few loose swings in the final few holes, but the fact of the matter is that Columbus State and Georgia College showed why they have been atop the polls all year. They came through in the clutch and hit some sensational shots with their seasons on the line.
"As a team, we had a tremendous year. Had we moved up, I have no doubt that we could have contended for the National Championship. I'm sure there are a handful of other teams from this region that feel the same way. Now, it will be up to Jonathan to carry the Barton banner to Washington on May 19-22. He proved this week that he is one of the country's best, and I expect he will be a contender to win it all in a couple of weeks."
Coker Golf Finishes 11th at Regionals, Season Comes to an End
May 6, 2009
by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
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Florence, Ala. - The Coker College Golf Team's season came to an end Wednesday, as the Cobras placed in a tie for 11th place at the 2009 Southeast/South Super Regional Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals Course. Coker shot a team score of 291 (+3) in the third and final round giving them a three round total of 891 (+27), tying them with the University of West Florida.
The University of West Alabama was the overall winner, with a three day total of 868 (+4), followed by Lynn University at 869 (+5) and Barry University at 874 (+10). Joining those three schools at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship will be Columbus State University and Georgia College and State University, while Barton College's Jonathan Burke and Florida Southern University's Brian Richey will advance as individuals.
Coker was led by freshman Jared Crane (Greenville, SC) as he fired a five under par 67 in the final round to finish in a tie for sixth place overall, while Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) shot a 74 (+2). Diego Polo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) and Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) each shot 75 (+3) in the final round, with John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) rounding out the Coker five with a 80 (+8).
Coach Tommy Baker and the Cobras had an outstanding year, placing in the top five in 9 of 11 tournaments, including taking championship honors at three tournaments (Coker Intercollegiate, Tusculum Invitational and Carolina Sands Intercollegiate). With his entire team returning next season, Coach Baker has a lot to look forward to in the future for the Coker Golf program.
May 6, 2009
Men's Golf Finishes 17th At NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional
The Belmont Abbey men's golf team finished 17th at the NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional, hosted by the University of North Alabama at the par 72 Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Belmont Abbey carded a final team score of 911, with rounds of 304-303-304 (+47). Sophomore Peter Tarver Jones led the Abbey with a tie for 29th finish, posting a score of 221 (+5). He posted scores of 72-73-76. Junior Karan Singh compiled a three-day score of 231 (+15) with rounds of 77-78-76 to finish in a tie for 81st.
Chris Carvill and Stephen Keane finished in ties of 85th and 89th, respectively. Carvill posted scores of 76-77-79=232 (+16), while Keane carded rounds of 79-75-79=233 (+17). Joe Campbell finished in sole possession of 100th with a score of 238. He posted rounds of 83-82-73 (+22).
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