Aggies finish sixth at NCAA II golf regional

     KILLEN, Ala. (May 8) - The Cameron University golf team shaved 17 strokes from its first-round effort, but managed just a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships at Turtle Point Country Club, in Florence, Ala.
     The Aggies entered the final round of the rain-shortened event in last place in the team standings after an opening round score of 319, but rallied with a 302 in the second round.
     Sophomore Ryan King followed up his individual crown at the Lone Star Conference Championship with a ninth-place finish at the regional event. King shot rounds of 78 and 74 to finish five shots off the leader's pace as the only Aggie among the Top 20 individuals. Abilene Christian's Pierre Goethals earned a trip to the NCAA II national championships as the regional medialist. Goethals fired rounds of 73 and 74 to best Chris Starke of Central Oklahoma and Luke Antonelli of St. Mary's by two shots.
     Central Oklahoma took the team title in the regional, advancing to the national tournament with a final round 299 to take a seven-stroke victory over runner-up Abilene Christian.  UCO had rounds of 302 and 299 for a 601 total. Cameron finished 20 strokes back at 621.
     The South Central Regional, along with the South Regional which was held simultaneously at Turtle Point,  was originally scheduled for 54 holes. Tuesday's scheduled second round was cancelled due to rain and severe weather and tournament coaches, along with organizers from the host school, North Alabama, opted to shorten the event to just two rounds.  Wednesday's action was further delayed until the early afternoon, as the final round of a storm system that dumped more than seven inches of rain in the area this week passed through in the morning hours.
     Cameron's finish in the tournament denies the Aggies a third straight trip to the NCAA Division II national championships. Coach Jerry Hrnciar's Aggies won the regional title last season to advance to nationals and earned a trip to the 2001 event, as well. Since 1990, Cameron has made seven trips to the national tournament, including a third-place finish in 1996. The Aggies also made eight trips to the NAIA national tournament from 1977 to 1987, highlighted by the school's only national golf championship in 1983.

2003 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship
May 5-7, Turtle Point Country Club, Florence, Ala.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS
1. Central Oklahoma  (302 - 299 = 601)
2. Abilene Christian  (306 - 302 = 608)
3. Southwestern Ok. St.  (301- 309 = 610)
4. St. Mary's  (315 - 297 = 612)
5. Northeastern State  (310 - 307 = 617)
6. Cameron (319 - 302 = 621)
    Drury  (308 - 313 = 621)
8. East Central  (315 - 314 = 629)

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS
1. Pierre Goethals, ACU  (73 - 74 = 147)
2. Chris Starke, UCO  (77 - 72 = 149)
    Luke Antonelli, SMU  (77 - 72 = 149)
4. Eric Moore, NSU  (76 - 74 = 150)
    Brent Baker, LU  (73 - 75 = 150)
    Donnie Keim, UCO  (73 - 77 = 150)
7. Justin Twyman, SWOSU  (75 - 76 = 151)
    Greg McAuley, SMU  (78 - 73 = 151)
9. Ryan King, CU  (78 - 74 = 152)
    Gary Pike, ACU  (76 - 76 = 152)
    Todd Mack, ACU  (76 - 76 = 152)
    Donnie Martin, UCO  (76 - 76 = 152)
    Jimmy Thind, SWOSU  (74 - 78 = 152)
    Brad Fleetwood, NSU  (74 - 78 = 152)

CAMERON SCORES
T9. Ryan King  (78 - 74 = 152)
T22. Jorge Romano  (79 - 76 = 155)
T27. Kolby Seals  (80 - 77 = 157)
T27. Ben Griffin  (82 - 75 = 157)
T31. Travis Lovins  (82 - 77 = 159)