Queens Men's Golf Advances to First-Ever NCAA Championship; QUC's Lasso Captures Regional Individual Title; BC's Claytor Qualifies as Individual for Nationals
5/5/2010 7:22:38 PM
-Courtesy of QUC Sports Information
CHARLOTTE, N.C.- For the first time in program history the Queens University of Charlotte men’s golf team has advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship by placing fifth at the South/Southeast Regional that wrapped up today. Individually, Ben Lasso (Falls Church, Va., Heritage Academy) captured the title by shooting an impressive eight-under-par for the 54 hole event at the Wilson Country Club in Wilson, N.C.
For Queens, this is the second individual winner in the last three years as Iain Hall won the Atlantic Regional in 2007 to become the first Queens qualifier to advance to the National Championship.
The Royals had an up-and-down tournament having finished the first day in fourth place, then dropped to 10th place after the second round and rebounded strongly in the third round by shooting four-under as a team. Queens finished ahead of four of the nation’s top 10 teams, No. 2 Georgia College and State University, No. 5 North Alabama, No. 7 Belmont Abbey and No. 8 Lander. In addition to the four top-10 teams the Royals beat out, they placed higher than six teams ranked higher than the Royals own No. 27 ranking.
Lasso shot his tournament best 67 during the final round. He recorded six birdies and two boogies. For the tournament, he had 12 birdies and four boogies. He beat the second place finisher, JP Albuquerque of St. Leo, by three strokes. Lasso carded his -8 tournament with two rounds of 69 and one of 67.
Robert Andrew Hodge (Hebron, Ky., Conner) had what is his single best round at Queens shooting 66, a tie for the tournament low round. After the opening two rounds Hodge was tied for 51st place and with his five-under third round he tied for 12th overall, a jump of 39 places. Hodge carded a boogey free round with five birdies. For the event he finished -1 (75-71-66). Hodge’s 66 is the lowest single round score in program history.
David
Bainbridge (England, Thomas Alleynes) and Ryan
Sevigny (Stittsville, Ontario, Sacred Heart) finished the
event tied in 52nd with eight-over par, 221. Pureum
Lee (North Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Handsworth Secondary)
Rounded out the Queens team with a 235, for 22over par.
Also advancing to the national event are region winners Barry, plus
Lynn, Florida Southern and Nova Southeastern. The top two
individuals not on an advancing team move forward-
Daniel Claytor of Barton and Albuquerque of St.
Leo.
Queens will travel to Noblesville, Ind. for the championship event. The four-round tournament starts Tuesday, May 18 and concludes Friday, May 21 at the Sagamore Golf Club. Information about the tournament, including direction and hotel information, can be found here.
