Lions Dominate Field, Win First Conference Tournament Title
4/17/2012 7:14:00 PM
UAFS played its best golf of the season, and the Lions have the hardware to prove it.
Five players finished in the Top 20 to lead UAFS to its first Heartland Conference Tournament Championship on Tuesday at Hardscrabble Country Club. It was the first time the Lions, who were provisional members of NCAA Division II the past two seasons, were eligible to compete for the conference tournament title.
UAFS also earned its first berth in the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament, which begins May 7 at Jefferson City Country Club in Jefferson City, Mo.
“I am happy for our guys, especially for the ones who stuck around through our provisional years,” UAFS golf coach Mark Curlett said. “To win it the first year is fun. It’s fun for them, and I am happy for them.”
UAFS shot a 20-over par 860 (289-280-291) during the three-round, two-day affair that featured a seven-team field. UAFS beat tournament favorite St. Edward’s by 13-strokes – the same lead it enjoyed after Monday’s first two rounds.
Dallas Baptist was third (893), followed by St. Mary’s (898), Newman (906)), Oklahoma Panhandle State (988) and Texas A&M International (1,010).
UAFS senior Matt McKown and junior Josh Buchanan finished tied for the lead after 36 holes with each shooting a 3-over 213 on the par 70 course that’s widely considered one of the toughest courses in the region.
McKown, who shot rounds of 74-70-69, birdied the first hole of the sudden-death playoff to beat Buchanan, who shot rounds of 74-69-70. Buchanan parred the playoff hole.
It was the second week in a row that UAFS had players finish 1-2 in a tournament decided by a sudden-death playoff. Last week, UAFS Lady Lion Taylor Arnold beat teammate Whitney Novak and Southern Nazarene’s Jordan Leibolo in a playoff to win the Natural State Golf Classic.
“Going down No. 1, they both hit it in the trees, which was kind of funny,” Curlett said. “Both then hit fantastic shots within six feet. Matt McKown made his shot, and Josh Buchanan didn’t. They played that hole the way they played the whole tournament. They had a bad drive, but they came back with a great shot.”
UAFS senior Ethan Adamson, who led by one stroke after two rounds, shot a 7-over 217 (70-72-75) and finished fifth, senior Will Fogleman shot an 11-over 221 (71-73-77) and finished tied for ninth and freshman Dylan Lovell shot a 17-over 227 (77-69-81) and finished 16th.
“The guys just put it together,” Curlett said. “I think there was a sense of urgency on their part, and all the guys stepped up and did a great job.”
UAFS set the stage for its win during Monday’s first two rounds.
The Lions shot a 9-over par 569 and built an insurmountable 13-stroke lead going into Tuesday’s final round. UAFS shot rounds of 289-280, using a strong second-round effort to distance themselves from the rest of the seven-team field. The Lions only led by one stroke after the first round.
Adamson led the 34-player field with a 2-over par 142 (70-72). He held a one-stroke lead over Buchanan and Dallas Baptist’s Jamie Youree and Luke Thacker.
Buchanan and Lovell ignited the Lions’ blistering second-round performance, each shooting a tournament low 1-under 69 over the second 18 holes. UAFS had all five of its players finish in the Top 10.
Buchanan shot 3-over 143 (74-69) and finished tied for second. McKown (74-70) and Fogleman (71-73) shot a 4-over 144 and finished tied for fifth, and Lovell shot a 6-over 146 (77-69) and finished tied for ninth.
“Make no mistake about it. We played better than any of the other teams,” Curlett said. “The guys just played wonderful. That second round (on Monday) … when you shoot four (individual) rounds of even par or better out here – we dropped a 73 even – is dominating. That would have been dominating on any course you play.”
The Lady Lions had a lot of work ahead of them during Tuesday’s final round after a tough first-round performance on Monday. UAFS couldn’t make up any ground on leader and eventual champion St. Edward’s and finished fourth in the seven-team field.
The Lady Lions shot a 96-over 656 (327-329), finishing 47 strokes behind St. Edward’s. St. Edward’s shot a 49-over 609 (305-304). The Hilltoppers, who were the favorite, won the tournament by 23 strokes over Newman. The Lady Jets shot a 72-over 632 (317-315).
Novak shot a 20-over 160 (80-80) and finished tied for eighth. Senior Sidney Tallon shot a 24-over 164 (83-81) and finished 15th, junior Jami Hendrix shot a 29-over 169 (83-86) and finished tied for 18th, Arnold shot a 31-over 171 (89-82) and finished 20th and freshman Colleen O’Connell shot a 33-over 173 (81-92) and finished tied for 21st.
St. Edward’s Haley Haught shot a 3-over 143 (73-70) to earn medalist honors.
“I was happy for our women playing in it for the first time as an active member of Division II,” Curlett said.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MEN
Matt McKown, UAFS
Josh Buchanan, UAFS
Ethan Adamson, UAFS
Luke Kwon, St. Edward’s
Jose Hernandez, St. Edward’s
WOMEN
Haley Haught, St.Edward’s
Wallis Spears, St. Edward’s
Melissa Gonzales, St. Edward’s
Kiersten Klekner-Alt, Newman
Linzi Allen, Newman
Erin Barrington, Dallas Baptist