DENVER - SMU advanced to the NCAA Mens Golf Championships after a ninth-place showing at the Central Regionals in Stillwater, Okla., last weekend. The Mustangs were one of five Western Athletic Conference mens teams who participated in the three regional tournaments held May 17-19. Individually, Fresno States Nick Watney, who was the lowest scoring player from a team that did not qualify, will compete at nationals after finishing in a tie for fourth at the West Regional.
The championships will be conducted May 30-June 2 at the Duke University Golf Club in Durham, N.C with Duke serving as the host institution.
The Mustangs saved the best for the last, posting their lowest total of the tournament and a final-round low 293 to move into a tie for ninth place with the University of Houston on the final standings. SMU was four strokes back of the final qualifying spot and in a tie for 16th at the start of play on Sat., May 19. Franklin Hatchett, who teed off knotted in 21st, led the Mustang charge with 2-under par 70 and finished tied for 10th place (217) in the individual medallist tournament. In second for SMU was Jerome Theunis, who carded a final round 75 to tie for 40th (223).
WAC champion TCU and runner-up Tulsa also teed off in the 27-team Central Regional. The field was highlighted by eight top-25 programs including: TCU, No. 4 Texas, No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 14 Augusta State, No. 17 Oklahoma, No. 19 Houston and No. 24 Northwestern. Tulsa was edged out in the final standings by one stroke, landing in a tie for 11th. Freshman of the Year David Inglis shot a 1-over-par 217 to tie for 10th. For only the third time in 11 seasons, TCU failed to advance to nationals, placing 22nd. Adam Rubinson highlighted an otherwise substandard outing for the Horned Frogs, as the first-team all-WAC selection tallied a team-best 2-over-par 218 to finish in 12th place.
Out west in Corvallis, Ore., Fresno State and Nevada battled six top-25 teams in the field that included No. 5 Arizona State, No. 9 Southern Cal, No. 15 South Carolina, No. 17 Arizona, No.18 New Mexico and No. 19 BYU. The Bulldogs, behind sophomore Nick Watneys impressive fourth-place performance, took 15th in the field of 27. Jonathon Echols also earned a top-20 finish, finishing in a tie for 19th, with a three-day total 219. The Wolf Pack placed 22nd, while second-team all-WAC selections Mike Haack and Sprague Kolp tied for 38th and 85th, respectively.