College golf play enters its final week in the NCCGA this coming week, after a season-high 12 tournaments were played last weekend.
Play across the nation featured multiple rounds under-par and stellar team performances in a crucial couple of days for NCCGA National Championship qualifying.
22 of the 28 team slots for Nationals are now claimed, with four regional tournaments remaining this upcoming weekend.
Has your team qualified for Nationals?
This week’s NCCGA honors go to Texas’ Carson Stepler, who shot a final round 67 to finish at 2-under par, and the Ozark Region’s Arkansas Tech who posted 8 rounds in the 70s for a 15-stroke victory.
Here is a breakdown of the play in college golf around the nation:
FLORIDA REGION
Info on the RT No. 2 from RC Patrick Barnes:
The Florida Region held their second tournament of the semester at Champions Club at Summerfield in Stuart, FL. The University of Florida had just come off a victory at the first regional and was looking to stay undefeated and clinch their bid to Nationals at Dancing Rabbit. However, Keiser was looking for an upset and gave Florida some good competition.
A constant, strong wind and hazards on almost every hole made scoring difficult. University of Florida was able to pull off a 17-stroke victory over Keiser with a 380-377 757 (+37) total. Laura Kanouse led University of Florida with an impressive 73-72, 145 (+1) total, winning the medalist for the second time this season. Keiser, led by Colby Takushi (+4), finished second with a 388-386, 774 (+54) team total.
UF's Laura Kanouse leads a strong Florida team into Nationals.
University of Florida now has their sights set on winning Nationals. "We are going to be a real threat this time since we will be able to bring a full team," says President Laura Kanouse.
NEW ENGLAND REGION
Boston College’s A squad took home the title and a Nationals bid. BC’s Stephen Pfeffer paced the field with rounds of 79-73 for 8-over total of 152.
TEXAS REGION
The hotly-contested Texas Region concluded play over the weekend, with the University of Texas-Austin locking up a bid to Nationals.
Baylor will also be representing the Texas Region at Dancing Rabbit via the automatic bid after winning Nationals last semester.
Texas’ Stepler was outstanding once again, posting nine hole scores of 34-33 on day two. Stepler is currently the top-ranked individual in the NCCGA.
NCCGA Individual Player Rankings
OHIO VALLEY REGION
In what can easily be called the most competitive region in college golf, Ohio State emerged victorious and sealed a bid to Nationals.
Ohio State is the only school in the nation to be present at every National Championship in NCCGA history.
Ohio State, who won by 20 strokes over Cincinnati and Miami (OH), is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. Cincinnati and Miami follow at 8 and 9, respectively. Both will be in contention for wild card berths to Dancing Rabbit.
CAPITOL REGION
The University of Maryland-College Park sealed the automatic bid to Nationals in the Capitol Region over the weekend. Top performers Grant Johnson, Sean Keane and Derek Domogla excelled in a close victory over Towson.
NORTHWEST REGION
The University of Idaho will be making the trip to Mississippi, after a three-stroke victory over Central Washington in RT No. 2.
Idaho’s Eric McCabe took care of business on the front nine both days (35 on day one, 34 on day two) and earned Medalist honors with a final score of 2-over, 146.
GREAT LAKES REGION
The Great Lakes Region features one of the best growing rivalries in college golf. Purdue, the fifth-ranked team in the nation, beat out No. 21 Notre Dame by just five strokes en route to sealing the automatic bid to Nationals.
Purdue’s Anthony Zachman shot a 69 on day two to finish at 4-over, 144 overall and take Medalist honors.
DESERT REGION
The teams in the Desert battled tough scoring conditions all weekend, but Arizona State emerged victorious. The Sun Devils are currently ranked No. 41 in the nation after this weekend of play in college golf.
ASU’s Alec Miller was the only player in the field to post a score in the 70s, finishing day one with 78 and following it up with an 81 to earn Medalist honors.
SOUTHWEST REGION
The nation’s fourth-ranked team overall, National University, cleaned up in the Southwest Region over the weekend.
UCLA’s Dustin Watanabe took home individual Medalist honors with rounds of 75 and 72.
National will look to build on a runner-up performance at Nationals last semester at Dancing Rabbit.
OZARK REGION
College golfers from Arkansas Tech won’t have to travel far to Dancing Rabbit in Philadelphia, MS after picking up a bid last weekend.
No. 7 Arkansas Tech beat second-place Ok. St. by 15 strokes and advanced to play in college golf’s premier event. Sean Heidrick of the University of Arkansas won Medalist honors with scores of 71 and 74, for 1-over par 145.
MOUNTAIN REGION
After narrowly missing out on a tournament win in RT No. 1, the University of Colorado-Boulder would not be stopped this time.
The Buffaloes stormed back with a vengeance and dominated RT No. 2, winning by 40 strokes over Colorado School of Mines.
PACIFIC REGION
Stanford University picked up a dominating win in RT No. 2 in the Pacific. Despite having only six players playing, the Cardinal posted five rounds in the 70s en route to a 49-stroke victory.
***Dave Uhrmacher (@DaveUhrm) is the NCCGA Director of Communications.
