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Bearkat Men's Golf Claims Southland Title

The Bearkats took an eight-shot lead into the final round, as winds kicked up to 25-30 mile per hour gusts. After shooting 1-over through the first two rounds, the Kats shot 22-over on Wednesday.

McKINNEY – Battling through rough playing conditions and hard charging McNeese State squad, the Sam Houston Bearkats were able to dig down and make just enough shots to win the Southland Conference Championship Wednesday.

The Bearkats took an eight-shot lead into the final round, as winds kicked up to 25-30 mile per hour gusts. After shooting 1-over through the first two rounds, the Kats shot 22-over on Wednesday.

Despite playing the front 9 at 10-over par, the Kats still held an 8 shot lead at the turn.

“It was a gift that we didn’t lose on shots on the front nine,” said head coach Brandt Kieschnick. “We gave back four or five shots on holes 10 to 12. But the guys just buckled down. We tried to win the last three holes yesterday and we won the last three today.”

Levi Valdez and Austen Christiansen were the top scorers for Sam Houston. Valdez placed third with McNeese’s Ian Berrigan at six-over. Christiansen tied for fifth with Stephen F. Austin’s Angelo Valdez and Central Arkansas’ Rodrigo Rivas at seven-over par.

The Bearkats relied on their play on the par threes and par fours to earn their first Southland title since 2015. They averaged 3.25 on the par threes and 4.33 on the fours. They sunk the most pars for the field, carding 160 for the tournament, and the second-most birdies at 37 for the tournament. They also tacked on two eagles.

“This golf course makes you zone in on every shot and execute every shot,” Kieschnick said. “I love this course for a conference course. I think it’s one of the best in the country and it just tests you at every level to get ready for regionals”.

Jake McCrory, who finished 8th to give the Bearkats three golfers in the top 10, scored one-under for the par threes on the tournament to lead the individual field.

Sam Houston will find out its 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship destination during the selection show next Wednesday, May 2 at 5 p.m. on the Golf Channel.

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