Final Results
LEMONT, Ill. – The Bulldogs are headed back to the NCAA Division II Championship for the second time in three years under head coach
Brad Fleetwood after a strong showing at the NCAA Central/Midwest Super Regional on the Dubsdread Course at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club. SWOSU last took a team to the National Championship in 2013.
The Bulldogs used a strong showing in the final round of play to clinch the National Championship berth, shooting 300 (+12) over the final 18 holes. SWOSU was able to climb one spot up from fifth, the last qualifying position, into a fourth place finish that put them seven strokes to the good on their competition. After the 300 on the final day, SWOSU's men posted a 54-hole score of 898 (+34).
Battling his way back after a tough second round performance,
Stefan Idstam delivered the Bulldogs' round of the tournament, posting a 71 (-1) to finish the tournament. Idstam managed to shave seven strokes off his second round score. He bagged nine birdies over the course of the event, along with a team-high 34 holes of par, as he finished with a share of ninth place. Idstam finished the Super Regional with an overall score of 221 (+5).
After leading the Bulldogs throughout the first two rounds,
Marques Gomez turned in a 75 (+3) on the final day. Taking a share of 17th overall, Gomez enjoyed his second-best finish of the year on the vaunted Dubsdread with an overall score of 223 (+7). He tied for fourth in the tournament, and led SWOSU, with 10 birdies.
Also contributing to the Bulldogs' cause were
Manuel Arzuaga,
Jake Duvall and
Seth Overstreet. Arzuaga turned in a 77 (+5) on Wednesday to finish in a tie for 31st with an overall score of 227 (+11). Duvall shared 31st with Arzuaga, also shooting a 77 (+5) in the finale for a 227 (+11) overall. Overstreet posted an 80 (+8) over the last 18 holes for a 54-hole total of 238 (+22) and tied for 83rd overall.
Central Oklahoma took top honors at the Super Regional with an overall score of 885 (+20) and a third round score of 292 (+4). Eric Kline of UCO took medalist honors with a 71 (-1) on Wednesday and a 214 (-2) overall.
SWOSU will be the Great America Conference's lone representative to the 2015 National Championship. The Bulldogs are also one of just two Oklahoma teams from the Central/Midwest Super Region to qualify.
"I'm incredibly proud and excited for our men," said Fleetwood after the Bulldogs clinched their spot in the National Championship. "They played with a lot of courage and confidence to outlast some quality opponents today. This is what we've worked for all year, and we are incredibly honored to represent SWOSU and the GAC at the National Championship."
The National Championship will be held Monday, May 18 thru Friday, May 22 in Conover, N.C., at the Rockbarn Resort.
