Monday, May 7
Amarillo, Texas
6:00 AM
California Baptist University
vs
NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional
Photo by: Andrew Shortall
CBU Fights Way to NCAAs
5/9/2018 7:14:00 PM | Men's Golf
RESULTS
AMARILLO, Texas – Despite seven teams being ranked ahead of it coming into the tournament, California Baptist University secured a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional.
CBU finished with a 13-over-par total of 865 this week after shooting 11-over 295 in Wednesday's third and final round. St. Mary's of Texas won the regional by four strokes with an 861 (286-285-290). The second-place finish regionally also stamped the 30th-ranked Lancers' ticket to the Division II Championships.
"We have the depth and talent on our team that when all five show up, we are very difficult to beat," Coach TL Brown said. "Our goal this week was to put ourselves in position with 18 to play, and we are very blessed to have the opportunity to qualify for nationals, it's really hard to do."
Holy Names wrapped up third place with an 869 to give the PacWest two teams at the D-II Championships at the Fighting Joe in Muscle Shoals, Alabama May 21-25. Colorado-Colorado Springs also advanced out of regionals by taking fourth (871), while Sonoma State and Colorado Christian tied for fifth with 878s before CCU got the final D-II berth on a playoff hole.
Emilio Gonzalez of St. Mary's and Colorado School of Mines' George Markham tied for first place, with Markahm winning the title on a second playoff hole.
Like he had all week, Ben Hallam led the Lancers by shooting one-under 70 on Wednesday. It locked up a third-place individual finish for the junior, with a four-under total of 209 (70-69-70) in the tournament. Hallam logged three birdies and an eagle to card a 70 in the third round.
"The region was wide open this this year, I thought the tournament would come down to the last three holes and it did," Brown said. "Sure, we are a little disappointed we were in position to win and didn't, but I am just so proud of the guys. They pushed hard to make sure we would go to nationals in our final year in Division II."
Wednesday marked the third year in a row CBU has qualified for the Division II Tournament, with the team transitioning to D-I next year. The Lancers took 10th place in Division II last year and advanced to match play for a fifth-place tie in 2016.
Wind was a constant challenge on the week, but it was even more extreme on Wednesday.
"It was rough conditions out there, there was a lot of wind and you had to fight the ball," Brown said. "The wind would change, stop and go another direction, it wasn't a constant breeze. You had to stay committed to the shot, bear down and stay committed to the club you picked."
It was a challenge that seemed to play into Hallam's hands all week, including round three. The junior birdied two of his first six holes to play the front nine two under on Wednesday. He ran into some trouble, with three bogeys, from holes 11 to 14 but bounced back with a birdie at 16 and eagle at 17.
"Ben had real command of his irons, the course demanded low shots, iron off the tees and things like that," Brown said. "He's from England so he knows how to play in the wind and keep the ball low. He was good with his approach shots, his iron play was rock solid this week. He wants to be an All-American and he is really motivated."
All five Lancers shot 77 or better in the third round and four of them finished in the top-26 of the entire regional field.
"I think our preparation was good, we were motivated to play our way into position and that's what we were doing," Brown said. "We got a good feel for the golf course in the practice round."
Dan Heron birdied three times to shoot 74, while two birdies helped Ryan Monsalve card a 75 on Wednesday. Matt Harris rounded out the scorers for CBU with a 76, while Greg Gonzalez gave CBU a quality drop score of 77.
"Dan played really well, he gave us two solid rounds. Greg was good this week, his first 36 holes put us in position," Brown said. 'Ryan Monsalve, for a freshman, is coming into his own, I am really excited for him."
Monsalve, Heron and Gonzalez all finished one shot off the other to tie for 19th, 22nd and 26th place in the tournament. Monsalve shot 218 (74-69-75) overall, while Heron produced a 219 (74-71-74) and Gonzalez came in at 220 (74-69-77). Harris also took 53rd with a 224 (76-72-76) to finish in the top half of 108-player field.
AMARILLO, Texas – Despite seven teams being ranked ahead of it coming into the tournament, California Baptist University secured a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional.
CBU finished with a 13-over-par total of 865 this week after shooting 11-over 295 in Wednesday's third and final round. St. Mary's of Texas won the regional by four strokes with an 861 (286-285-290). The second-place finish regionally also stamped the 30th-ranked Lancers' ticket to the Division II Championships.
"We have the depth and talent on our team that when all five show up, we are very difficult to beat," Coach TL Brown said. "Our goal this week was to put ourselves in position with 18 to play, and we are very blessed to have the opportunity to qualify for nationals, it's really hard to do."
Holy Names wrapped up third place with an 869 to give the PacWest two teams at the D-II Championships at the Fighting Joe in Muscle Shoals, Alabama May 21-25. Colorado-Colorado Springs also advanced out of regionals by taking fourth (871), while Sonoma State and Colorado Christian tied for fifth with 878s before CCU got the final D-II berth on a playoff hole.
Emilio Gonzalez of St. Mary's and Colorado School of Mines' George Markham tied for first place, with Markahm winning the title on a second playoff hole.
Like he had all week, Ben Hallam led the Lancers by shooting one-under 70 on Wednesday. It locked up a third-place individual finish for the junior, with a four-under total of 209 (70-69-70) in the tournament. Hallam logged three birdies and an eagle to card a 70 in the third round.
"The region was wide open this this year, I thought the tournament would come down to the last three holes and it did," Brown said. "Sure, we are a little disappointed we were in position to win and didn't, but I am just so proud of the guys. They pushed hard to make sure we would go to nationals in our final year in Division II."
Wednesday marked the third year in a row CBU has qualified for the Division II Tournament, with the team transitioning to D-I next year. The Lancers took 10th place in Division II last year and advanced to match play for a fifth-place tie in 2016.
Wind was a constant challenge on the week, but it was even more extreme on Wednesday.
"It was rough conditions out there, there was a lot of wind and you had to fight the ball," Brown said. "The wind would change, stop and go another direction, it wasn't a constant breeze. You had to stay committed to the shot, bear down and stay committed to the club you picked."
It was a challenge that seemed to play into Hallam's hands all week, including round three. The junior birdied two of his first six holes to play the front nine two under on Wednesday. He ran into some trouble, with three bogeys, from holes 11 to 14 but bounced back with a birdie at 16 and eagle at 17.
"Ben had real command of his irons, the course demanded low shots, iron off the tees and things like that," Brown said. "He's from England so he knows how to play in the wind and keep the ball low. He was good with his approach shots, his iron play was rock solid this week. He wants to be an All-American and he is really motivated."
All five Lancers shot 77 or better in the third round and four of them finished in the top-26 of the entire regional field.
"I think our preparation was good, we were motivated to play our way into position and that's what we were doing," Brown said. "We got a good feel for the golf course in the practice round."
Dan Heron birdied three times to shoot 74, while two birdies helped Ryan Monsalve card a 75 on Wednesday. Matt Harris rounded out the scorers for CBU with a 76, while Greg Gonzalez gave CBU a quality drop score of 77.
"Dan played really well, he gave us two solid rounds. Greg was good this week, his first 36 holes put us in position," Brown said. 'Ryan Monsalve, for a freshman, is coming into his own, I am really excited for him."
Monsalve, Heron and Gonzalez all finished one shot off the other to tie for 19th, 22nd and 26th place in the tournament. Monsalve shot 218 (74-69-75) overall, while Heron produced a 219 (74-71-74) and Gonzalez came in at 220 (74-69-77). Harris also took 53rd with a 224 (76-72-76) to finish in the top half of 108-player field.
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