Monday, May 22
Reunion, Fla.
11:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
NCAA Division II Championship
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Photo by: Andrew Shortall
CBU Defies Rankings In the End
5/24/2017 2:12:00 PM | Men's Golf
REUNION, Fla. – For the second year in a row, California Baptist University defied the NCAA Division II rankings. The Lancers saw their season come to a close in the third and final round of stroke play on Wednesday, but they secured a top-10 finish after going in as the No. 14 team in the D-II polls.
There was little separating seventh to 10th place at the NCAA Division II Championships, with CBU needing a top-eight finish to advance to match play. All day long, the Lancers fluctuated from sixth to 10th place before they finished in a two-way tie for 10th place with an 883 after shooting 303 on Wednesday at The Reunion Resort.
"I know the guys are disappointed today, but in the end I do believe we will get the bigger lessons from this happening," Coach TL Brown said. "I can't say enough about what a solid year we had. These guys worked so hard, and there were some great moments. The team is on the rise nationally and I am excited for our future.
"The Lancers will be back, I have no doubt and I am excited about next season."
CBU's 883 (292-290-303) left it two shots shy of a top-eight finish and three of seventh, with Ferris State (880) and Arkansas Tech (881) securing seventh and eighth place, respectively. Third-ranked Barry won stroke play (850), followed by fourth-ranked Florida Southern (853, second); No. 1 West Florida (854, third); No. 2 Lynn (866, fourth); sixth-ranked Florida Tech (868, fifth) and No. 7 Newberry College (874, sixth).
Hopes of a final-round comeback for CBU were complicated by inclement weather, including a tornado warning and winds reaching 30 miles per hour or more.
"The weather was just incredibly difficult out on the golf course today for everyone," Brown said.
Trevor Lampson continued to lead CBU in the third round and took third place in the 108-player field with a one-over-par 211 (67-72-72). West Florida's Chandler Blanchet won the event with 209. Lampson played his final five holes even par and used two birdies to shoot two-over 72 on Wednesday.
"I can't say enough about the incredible spring Trevor Lampson had, and to be in position to win the national championship as a freshman is amazing," Brown said.
Greg Gonzalez and Kendel Hodges both shot 76s for the Lancers, with Hodges logging three birdies on the day and Gonzalez using one. Tai Kuida rounded out the scorers for CBU with a 77 to give him a 226 total (77-72-77) that secured a 63rd-place finish individually.
Gonzalez (77-74-76) and Hodges (76-75-76) both shot 227 to take 66th place. Christian Sanders finished with a 228 (72-72-84) to take 76th.
Gonzalez, a junior, and Lampson and Hodges -- both freshmen -- will grow from their experience this week and take it with them the rest of their careers, Brown said.
"The three returning guys who experienced this will be very hungry next year," Brown said. "We learned a lot from this, and this was an awesome year for CBU golf."
It was an emotional sendoff for Sanders and Kuida, the two seniors on the team. Both walked away knowing how important they were to their team's success this week, this season and much more.
"I can't say enough about Christian, Tai and their careers at CBU," Brown said. "They really helped us through the first two rounds here. It was nice to see them play well in their final collegiate tournaments."
RESULTS
There was little separating seventh to 10th place at the NCAA Division II Championships, with CBU needing a top-eight finish to advance to match play. All day long, the Lancers fluctuated from sixth to 10th place before they finished in a two-way tie for 10th place with an 883 after shooting 303 on Wednesday at The Reunion Resort.
"I know the guys are disappointed today, but in the end I do believe we will get the bigger lessons from this happening," Coach TL Brown said. "I can't say enough about what a solid year we had. These guys worked so hard, and there were some great moments. The team is on the rise nationally and I am excited for our future.
"The Lancers will be back, I have no doubt and I am excited about next season."
CBU's 883 (292-290-303) left it two shots shy of a top-eight finish and three of seventh, with Ferris State (880) and Arkansas Tech (881) securing seventh and eighth place, respectively. Third-ranked Barry won stroke play (850), followed by fourth-ranked Florida Southern (853, second); No. 1 West Florida (854, third); No. 2 Lynn (866, fourth); sixth-ranked Florida Tech (868, fifth) and No. 7 Newberry College (874, sixth).
Hopes of a final-round comeback for CBU were complicated by inclement weather, including a tornado warning and winds reaching 30 miles per hour or more.
"The weather was just incredibly difficult out on the golf course today for everyone," Brown said.
Trevor Lampson continued to lead CBU in the third round and took third place in the 108-player field with a one-over-par 211 (67-72-72). West Florida's Chandler Blanchet won the event with 209. Lampson played his final five holes even par and used two birdies to shoot two-over 72 on Wednesday.
"I can't say enough about the incredible spring Trevor Lampson had, and to be in position to win the national championship as a freshman is amazing," Brown said.
Greg Gonzalez and Kendel Hodges both shot 76s for the Lancers, with Hodges logging three birdies on the day and Gonzalez using one. Tai Kuida rounded out the scorers for CBU with a 77 to give him a 226 total (77-72-77) that secured a 63rd-place finish individually.
Gonzalez (77-74-76) and Hodges (76-75-76) both shot 227 to take 66th place. Christian Sanders finished with a 228 (72-72-84) to take 76th.
Gonzalez, a junior, and Lampson and Hodges -- both freshmen -- will grow from their experience this week and take it with them the rest of their careers, Brown said.
"The three returning guys who experienced this will be very hungry next year," Brown said. "We learned a lot from this, and this was an awesome year for CBU golf."
It was an emotional sendoff for Sanders and Kuida, the two seniors on the team. Both walked away knowing how important they were to their team's success this week, this season and much more.
"I can't say enough about Christian, Tai and their careers at CBU," Brown said. "They really helped us through the first two rounds here. It was nice to see them play well in their final collegiate tournaments."
RESULTS
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Golf
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