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Buffs earn first berth in national
Joe Avento ELIZABETHTON – Milligan College’s golf team had been getting closer and closer to a berth in the NAIA national tournament. On Tuesday, a freshman put the Buffaloes over the hump. Terrance Evans shot a three-over-par 75 at Elizabethton Golf Course to capture medalist honors at the Appalachian Athletic Conference/NAIA Region XII tournament. More importantly, he helped Milligan take the team title and earn its first national berth. “I didn’t even care about the individual thing,” Evans said. “I just wanted our team to go because we have three seniors. That was all I was worried about.” Milligan, which had lost to Brescia University by two strokes two years ago and one last year, finished the 54-hole event with a total of 947. Brescia was second at 959. “It couldn’t happen to a better group of guys,” Milligan coach Tony Wallingford said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with this group. What a reward. I’m really happy for the three seniors.” The Buffs captured their third AAC championship in four years, but it was the Region XII event, held simultaneously, that held the biggest prize. Only the winning team advanced to the NAIA nationals. Milligan began the day seven shots ahead of Brescia and appeared to be in trouble when the players began to make the turn. But the Buffs rallied on the back nine and actually stretched their winning margin. “They made the shots,” Brescia coach Joe Pechota said. “That’s what it came down to. We looked at today as payday, and they made some payday shots. You have to give them all the credit. They made the plays when they needed to.” Evans finished with a 233 total. He had two birdies in his final round, on the front nine’s back-to-back par-fives. He was joined in the top 10 by teammates senior Matt Ongie and junior Grayson Patton. Ongie, the 36-hole leader, shot 81 to finish tied for second, two shots behind his teammate. Patton, the 2005 individual regional champion, shot 79 and tied for fifth. All three made the All-AAC and All-Region XII teams. “This could have been my last college tournament, but it’s not,” Ongie said. “It’s a relief. We’ve been so close the last four years. Every year it’s been a little closer. We had a lot to think about last night.” Milligan’s other two seniors Matt Barefoot and Ryan Morris finished 17th and tied for 18th, respectively. Union College’s Adam LaTulippe shot the tournament’s low round, a 73, and finished tied with Ongie and Brescia’s Clay Williams for second place. The NAIA national tournament is May 22-25 at Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Ind. Home |
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