KSU golfers finish second at NCAA Southeast Regional
The Kennesaw State University golf team knew it was better than a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Division…
Georgia (May 8, 2002) — KSU golfers finish second at NCAA Southeast Regional
Staff
Abstract
SNEADS FERRY‚ N.C. − The Kennesaw State University golf team knew it was better than
a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional. Wednesday‚ for the third
day in a row‚ coach Jon Dunlap's Owls went out and proved it.
Kennesaw State‚ which set and then tied the school record with a 283 total in each
of the first two rounds‚ closed out the tournament Wednesday with another record performance
at North Shore Country Club‚ shattering the previous mark by five strokes en route
to a second−place finish behind USC Aiken.
"We wanted to prove to the field and to the region and to the nation that we're not
a No. 6 seed (out of eight teams) in the Southeast‚" Dunlap said. "We did that."
Wednesday's 10−under−par 278 left the Owls at 20−under 844 for the tournament‚ nine
strokes off the pace set by the Peach Belt Conference champion Pacers‚ who clinched
a berth in the national tournament with their final−round 283.
Dunlap and his golfers will learn their national tournament fate Friday when the NCAA
selection committee announces the eight at−large selections that will join 10 regional
champions May 21−24 at Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort in Howey−in−the−Hills‚ Fla.
A trip to nationals would be a first for the golf program since KSU became an official
member of the NCAA in 1994.
"The chances look good‚" Dunlap said. "We'll just sit back and wait until Friday afternoon
and hope the phone rings.
"I'm happy and pleased‚" he added. "I'll be disappointed if we don't make it."
Individually for the Owls‚ senior Thomas Baker of Canton finished at 7−under 209 with
help from a final−round 67. Baker's total equaled the score put up by junior Luke
Stephan‚ who finished Wednesday's round at even−par 72 to tie his teammate for fifth
place in the individual standings.
Like Baker‚ freshman Bryan Hume also broke 70 in the final round‚ firing a 3−under
69 en route to a 215 total. Another freshman‚ Andrew Allen‚ posted a 2−under 70 on
Wednesday to equal Hume's final tally. Two strokes back was sophomore John Tillery‚
who closed out with a 1−over 73.
The individual champion was freshman Nick Cowper of Armstrong Atlantic‚ a graduate
of Harrison High School in Kennesaw who carded a 71 on Wednesday to finish the tournament
at 12−under 204‚ two strokes better than USC Aiken's Lee Harper.
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Kennesaw State University‚ a progressive‚ comprehensive institution with a growing
student population of 14‚100 offers more than 50 degree programs. Out of 34 institutions‚
KSU is the sixth largest in the University System of Georgia.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
