Mississippi State
NCAA Championship
Bulldog Linksters Conclude Play At NCAA Championship; Season Closes
May 31, 2008 | Men's Golf
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ? After an interruption due to hazardous weather conditions, the Mississippi State men's golf team has concluded play at the 111th NCAA Men's golf championship. The Bulldogs shot a team score of 935 at the par 72 Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayette, Ind. It was MSU's third appearance all-time at the NCAA Championship and their first since 2000.
“We did not finish it off like we wanted to but overall it has been a good year,” said Head Coach Clay Homan. “We accomplished a lot of things that have never been done before here at Mississippi State and now we know the level of golf we need to be at for next year so when we return to nationals we will be better prepared.”
The Bulldogs were led by junior Carlos Sainz, Jr. for the third time this season. Sainz tied senior Josh Oller for the lowest round of the tournament with a 1-over-par 73 in round three to contribute to his 229 overall score and a 55th place finish. Sainz also led MState in birdies with eight. Junior Noah Goldman notched his lowest round of the week in round three 80, finishing three strokes behind Sainz at 16-over-par. Goldman also conjured the team's only eagle of the tournament on the par 4 hole nine in round two. Junior Matt Fast improved from his opening round 84, to post scores of 74 and 75 in rounds two and three. Oller had the 1-over-par second round showing to boost his three-round score to 242. Junior Josh Bevell finished four strokes behind Oller through the 54-hole event.
“Carlos (Sainz, Jr.) and Matt (Fast) both played exceptionally well in the final round, but all of the guys played well at times through the tournament,” said Homan.
MSU closes the book on an impressive 2008 season with their first post season appearance in the Clay Homan-era, their highest finish in the SEC since 2000 at 5th, and tournament championship (Roadrunner Intercollegiate) and dual match championship (Magnolia Cup, again in-state rival Mississippi). The Bulldogs also found their way into the school record books tying the lowest round in school history (273-Magnolia Cup), notching the second lowest three-round score in school history (842-Gator Invitational).
The Bulldog individual have found success individually with Goldman winning two tournament championships (Roadrunner Intercollegiate-Magnolia Cup), SEC Golfer of the Week and being named to the GCAA All-Region team. Also, aside from first-year players, 23 career-highs have been set this past season among the Bulldog golfers.
MState loses two seniors, Oller a Brandon, Miss.-native and Jake Lambert of Jackson, Miss. The Bulldogs will return seven golfers with tournament play experience for the 2008-09 season.
NCAA Championship:
1.UCLA 297-293-298=888,+24 T2. Southern California 297-294-300=891,+27 T2. Clemson 301-288-302=8971,+27 4. Stanford 309-288=296=893,+29 5. Oklahoma State 298-296-301=895,+31 6. Florida 302-291-306=899,+35 7. Kent State 301-297-302=900,+36 8. Georgia 303-293-305=901,+37 9. Washington 305-290-307=902,+38 10. Alabama 309-297-297=903,+39 T11. Louisville 311-296-300=907,+43 T11. Charlotte 306-295-306=907,+43 T11. San Diego State 310-303-294=907,+43 14. Texas A&M 309-294-306=909,+49 15. Middle Tennessee State 309-293-311=913,+49 16. Auburn 306-304-304=914,+50 T17. Arizona State 311-293-312=916,+52 T17. Illinois 302-302-312=916,+52 19. Texas 311-309-297=917,+53 20. UC-Irvine 320-297-302=919,+55 21. Indiana 313-310-297=920,+56 T22. UAB 311-297-315=923,+59 T22. Wake Forest 314-304-305=923,+59 T22. East Tennessee State 313-300-310=923,+59 25. Penn State 315-298-313=926,+62 26. Virginia 312-307-312=931,+67 T27. Oregon 315-304-316=935,+71 T27. Mississippi State 326-297-312=935,+71 29. Augusta State 326-308-302=936,+72 30. Saint Mary's (CA) 333-309-307=949,+85
MSU Individuals:
T55 Carlos Sainz, Jr. 81-75-73=229,+13
T82 Noah Goldman 77-75-80=232,+16
T93 Matt Fast 84-74-75=233,+17
T137 Josh Oller 84-73-85=242,+26
T147 Josh Bevell 84-78-84=246,+30
