CU heads to Nationals with victory
MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama (May 9) – After 54 holes in three days at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the Cameron men’s golf team is now a Super Regional Champion. The Aggies won the South Central portion of the NCAA Division II South/South Central Super Regional golf tournament this afternoon, effectively punching their ticket to the NCAA Division II National Championship in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“We just played by far the best round of the year today,” Head Coach Jerry Hrnciar said. “My goodness, our worst score was just a 74 and everything else was par or better. We haven’t come close to doing that all season and we just peaked at the right time.”
The Aggies lead the field after yesterday’s second round, and was able to keep their pace to win the tournament with a 283 (-5) today. CU improved their total for the third consecutive day. For the three rounds, Cameron finished with a total score of 872 (301-288-283, +8).
Cameron finished the event nine strokes ahead of 2nd place Abilene Christian. The University of Northern Alabama, who was playing on their home course, won the South portion of the tournament after a three-round score of 859 (290-290-279, -5).
The best Division II men’s golf programs in the entire country come from either the South or South Central Regions, making the Super Regional tournament arguably more difficult than the National.
“This is the most important tournament of the year,” Coach Hrnciar said. “If you don’t do good in this one then (going to) Nationals is out of the question. Hopefully we can repeat this performance in the national tournament.” The NCAA Division II National Championship will be held at the Grand Valley State Golf Course.
Cameron, Northern Alabama, Florida Southern College, Barry University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Abilene Christian University will move on to the National Championship. The Aggies, who finished in 6th place out of ten schools at the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament, are just one of two schools from the South Central Region to move on to Nationals.
Senior Matt Trammell had the best tournament for the Aggies, finishing the event in a tie for 3rd place. His three-round total of 215 (72-69-74, -1) was just six strokes behind Central Oklahoma’s Mitch Boles who won the event.
“Really focusing and playing like we did today is what you try to do in collegiate athletics,” Coach Hrnciar said. “This is what counts the most. All of our guys wanted Matt (Trammell) to get to go to Nationals during his senior season, so they really got after it for him. Everyone played really well.”
Freshman Michael Lee continued his unbelievable vault up the standings with a 6th place finish in the tournament. Lee shot a team-best 68 (-4) this afternoon and finished the tournament with a total score of 219 (79-72-68, +3).
“The highlight (of the tournament) had to be (Michael) Lee,” Coach Hrnciar said. “He three-putted the 9th hole, had a double-bogey on the 10th hole, shot a bogey after that, then proceeded to record six birdies in a row.”
Sophomore Peter Svajlen was the other Aggie to finish in the top ten ending the tournament in a tie for 9th place. He finished the event with a total score of 221 (76-73-72, +5). Like Lee, Svajlen moved up in the standings after each round.
Freshman Brett Leavell was one of two Cameron golfers to finish today’s round with a 72 (E). Leavell ended the tournament with a solid 16th place finish after recording a total of 224 (74-78-72, +8) strokes.
Junior Cane Shumaker completed the greatest vault on the team, finishing today’s round in a tie for 19th place after beginning the tournament at 40th. Shumaker had the second-best third-round score with a 71 (-1) this afternoon. He finished the tournament with a combined score of 227 (82-74-71, +11).
As mentioned previously, the Aggies now move on to the NCAA Division II National Championship. Regardless of how CU finishes, it will be the final tournament of the season. The most elite teams in the entire country will compete for the National Championship at the Grand Valley State Golf Course in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“I couldn’t be happier for the guys, and I’m so proud of them,” Coach Hrnciar said. “We have been through some tough times this spring, and it wasn’t looking good. The guys put pressure on themselves and I’m proud of their response. Eliminating some of the top teams in this tournament makes all the work pay off.”
Check back to goaggies.cameron.edu during the national tournament. Both individual and team scores will be updating live.
