 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Teams News Facilities Camps Hall of Fame |
|
Milligan golfers swing way into NAIA National Championship
Wes Holtsclaw The Milligan College Buffaloes finally punched their ticket to the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship. Led by an outstanding final round from freshman Terrance Evans, who claimed the individual title, the Buffaloes claimed the AAC/NAIA Region XII Tournament at Elizbaethton Golf Course Tuesday. Milligan missed the National event by one stroke and two strokes, respectively, the previous two years, falling to an always tough Brescia (Ky.) University. This year, however, the Buffs, who struggled through the first nine holes on the day, were ready to make a charge once they reached the back nine at Elizabethton. Evans wanted to do his part to help out the squad's three seniors: Matt Ongie, Matt Barefoot and Ryan Morris. "I didn't even care about the individual thing," said Evans. "I was worried about our seniors. I wanted to play normal golf. I went out there playing like any other day." Evans birdied two holes on the final day to finish three-over-par at Milligan. The senior trio, along with junior Grayson Patton, did their own finishing in the top 18 individually. Ongie tied for second place with a 235, earning All-Region and All-AAC honors along with Patton who tied for fifth wth a 236. Barefoot added an overall score of 245, while Morris totaled a 246 to give Milligan (947) a 12-stroke win over Brescia (959). "It couldn't happen to a better group of guys," said Milligan coach Tony Wallingford, who was named AAC Coach of the Year. "What a reward for the three seniors? This caps it off for them. We were struggling at the turn, and we made a big comeback today. "Terrance had a great performance. I kept talking with him and telling him one shot at a time. He kept making shots." Ongie, the leader through two rounds of play, bogied the final three holes or else he may have topped his teammate, Evans, for the title. "I had no idea how he was doing," Ongie said. "I made some bogies down the stretch and was trying to keep up with the Brescia guys. "We've been so close the last four years, we had a lot to think about last night. Today, I was thinking about last year and how we lost a four or five stroke lead. I knew I had to be aggressive and ride it out if I had a bad stretch." None of the Milligan golfers knew how they fared individually until they left the 18th hole. Like Ongie noted, the squad was worried about the Brescia monster. "We knew they would bring it," Evans noted. "It seems like they win it every year. We knew if we could keep up with them today, we'd be fine. I'm just glad the seniors get to go." The National event will take place May 22nd at the Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Indiana. Covenant finished second in AAC play and third in Region XII pla with an overall score of 969. UVA-Wise was third in AAC and fourth in the Region with a 976, while Union (Ky.) College finisehd fourth and fifth, respectively, with a 977. Individually, Adam LaTulipee of Union and Brescia's Clay Williams also tied for second with a 235. LaTulippe made the move of the day after struggling in round two, firing an afternoon best one-over-par 73. UVa-Wise's Bryan Bentley also tied for fifth with a 236. Each of those golfers earned All-Region honors. Home |
About Milligan |
Admission |
Academics |
Student life |