Aggie golfers set to begin postseason run
VALDOSTA, Ga. (May 1) - The Cameron University men's golf team is set to make a run at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship. Coach Jerry Hrnciar's squad, ranked No. 17 in the latest national poll, begins action in the 54-hole regional on Monday at Kinderlou Forest Country Club in Valdosta, Ga.
Two eight-team regional tournaments will take place at Kinderlou Forest, with the top team in each region advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championships, May 17-20, at The Club at Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Ga. Cameron is the No. 2 seed in the South Central region behind third-ranked Central Oklahoma. The Aggies finished 19 strokes ahead of UCO at the Lone Star Conference tournament last month.
In addition to Cameron and UCO, six other teams competing in the South/South Central super-regional enter the event ranked among the Top 20 in the country. The Aggies also enter the regional ranked among the nation’s statistical leaders. Cameron is No. 2 in the nation in par-3 scoring average, par-5 scoring average and sub-par holes per round.
“I think we are as prepared as we possibly could be, considering the erratic weather conditions we’ve had here lately and the fact that our kids have been studying and making arrangements for final exams,” Hrnciar said. “With all the talent and experience we have in our lineup, we still have not put together a complete tournament this year and this week might be the week we put it all together.”
Leading the Aggies into the postseason is Owen Mahaffey. The sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, finished second at last month’s Lone Star Conference championships and was the individual medalist at last year’s conference meet. Canadian, Texas, junior Travis Lovins and Duncanville, Texas, senior Ryan King join Mahaffey with scoring averages of 73 or better this season. Mahaffey and Lovins were first team All-LSC selections this year, while King earned second-team all-conference honors. Sherman, Texas, junior Brian Adams and Lawton junior Scott Watson round out the Aggie lineup for the regional tournament.
“We will ride those top three guys pretty hard because they are all playing pretty well right now,” Hrnciar said. “Brian transferred here at semester break and Scott made his first start of the season at the conference tournament, but both have done an admirable job filling in for our injured players."
Valdosta State will serve as the host school for the South/South Central super-regional. Live scoring throughout the event will be available on the internet at www.golfstat.com.
