Arkansas Tech freshman Andre Jacobs hit a birdie on Hole 18 to turn in a 1-over 73 for the day Tuesday as the Wonder Boys took a four-stroke lead over Henderson State for their first Great American Conference golf championship since 2013. The Golden Suns turned in a 1-under 287, the tournament's best round, to claim their fifth-straight GAC title at Hot Springs Country Club.
The No. 27 Wonderboys finished with a 1-under 864 for the win, No. 20 HSU had a 3-over 867 and Southwestern Oklahoma State turned in a 20-over 884 for third. The No. 9 Golden Suns finished with a 21-over 885, No. 26 SWOSU shot a 34-over 898 for second and No. 45 HSU had a 68-over 932 for third.
Andre Jacobs turned in his worst score of the tournament with a 1-over 73, but the freshman waltzed into today's third round with a 5-under 139. Henderson State sophomore Trey DePriest looked to force a playoff for the win, but his 10-foot putt rimmed the cup on the 18th hole, forcing a gimme putt for par.
No. 3 Southeastern Oklahoma State senior Zach James finished with an even 216 on the weekend after shooting a 2-over 74 in both the first and third rounds. James, the GAC men's Golfer of the Year, was tied for third before dropping to fourth.
No. 63 HSU senior Cameron McRae, a Lakeside grad, struggled in his final round, bogeying five holes, including the par-3 No. 17, and he birdied just two holes on the day to finish with a 4-over 220 to land in a three-way tie for 10th with teammate Nick Shapiro and Arkansas Tech's Shawn Tsai. Grouped with Arkansas Tech freshman Francois Jacobs and Southwestern Oklahoma State's Gustavo Tineo, McRae fell behind as the Wonder Boy turned in four birdies and six bogeys to finish third overall.
"It's a lot of emotions out there on the golf course," McRae said. "I'm wanting to play good on my home course, obviously. I feel like I may have put a little too much pressure on myself just because I play here all the time. I know the course. I know our team, we're going to shake this off and come out firing at regionals."
McRae said that the Reddies had a strong showing in the first day, turning in a 1-under 575 for a one-stroke lead over the Wonder Boys, but they struggled on Tuesday.
"I thought we played solid the first two days to put us in position to defend (five) in a row," he said. "I feel like every year we come in here with a target on our back. We put ourselves in position; they played better than us today.
"We're looking forward to regionals this year. It's here again in a couple weeks. We're looking past this, and hoping to make it to nationals this year."
In December of 2017, the Reddies were awarded the Division II Men's Golf Central/Midwest Regional, which will be held on the Arlington Course of the Hot Springs Country Club May 9--11.
Harding freshman Ryan Camras turned in a 1-under 72 on Tuesday, matching his first-round score to turn in a 1-over 217 for the tournament to finish tied for fifth with teammate Trevor Mellott. Camras birdied three holes on his final card, including the 520-yard 18th.
"It feels good," Camras said of his finish, which landed him on the GAC All-Tournament Team. "I've worked really hard this year to make it there. I didn't get the exact finish I wanted, but I'm so happy with it -- a good year's finish.
"It's nice having the advantage of playing my home course. Being on my home course that I like a lot. It's fun to play."
The award comes on the heels of being named the GAC Freshman of the Year in Saturday's awards banquet.
"It feels great," he said. "It's just all the hard work I put in, along with the team, it's helped a lot. I'm happy to have that."
SWOSU's Kason Cook led the Bulldogs with a 1-over 219 to finish in a three-way tie for seventh with HSU's Kevin Boutier and Arkansas Tech's Kellen Gray.
The Golden Suns dominated the All-Tournament team, with four of the six spots filled by Arkansas Tech players, and the other two were held by SWOSU players. Sophomore Allie Weiner took away top honors after a 5-under 67 on Tuesday to turn in a 3-over 219.
GAC Freshman of the Year No. 36 Jacqueline Klemm and GAC Player of the Year No. 12 Peerada Piddon were tied for third, and No. 60 Pia Nunkhakdi tied for fifth with SWOSU's Gloria Choi. SWOSU's Chloe Thackeray was second overall with a 5-over 221.
Weiner struggled in her first two rounds, shooting an 8-over 152 with one birdie and 10 bogeys, but she birdied seven and bogeyed just two in Tuesday's round. Hannah Brauburger led the Reddie women with a 12-over 228.
Sports on 04/17/2019