Oklahoma State Going Home With NCAA Central Regional Title
May 17, 2003 | Men's Golf
May 17, 2003
Final NCAA Central Regional Team Results in PDF Format
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Final NCAA Central Regional Individual Results in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State made a huge charge during Saturday's third and final round of the 2003 NCAA Men's Central Regional Golf Championship on its home course at Colbert Hills but came up just one stroke short of qualifying for its first NCAA Nationals.
Absent from regional play since 1993, when it finished 21st of 21 teams, the 26th-seeded Wildcats showed the promise of a program on the rise, finishing in 11th place with a three-round total of 8-over-par 872. Wichita State grabbed the last qualifying position, taking 10th with a team total of 7-under 871.
"You've got to come out and give it your all," said K-State coach Tim Norris. "That's the one thing that playing this golf course teaches you. You just don't quit, and these guys didn't.
"At this level you're looking at eight or nine of the top 25 teams in the country. Hopefully (our team) feels like they belong after this (performance)."
Buoyed by a 4-under par 68 by Greg Douglas, his second of the tournament, and a 3-under 69 by Aaron Watkins, K-State carded the best round of the day at 8-under-par 280.
"I'm still excited," Watkins said. "They ranked us 26 out of 27 and we were only one shot away from (moving on). We didn't play very well yesterday afternoon, but it's going to happen when the weather is bad. I'm really excited (about our performance today)."
Oklahoma State shot a 6-under-par team score of 282 to earn a trip home after capturing the championship Saturday at the NCAA Division I Men's Central Regional Golf Championships at Colbert Hills Golf Course.
The Cowboys finished the 54-hole tournament at 8-under 856 as a team, five shots better than Illinois, which led after each of the first two rounds. N.C. State was the only other team to close out the tournament under par, placing third at 2-under. Oklahoma State will host the NCAA Division I Nationals on its home course, Karsten Creek, May 27-30.
Individually, Brett Callas of Houston shot a final-round 67 to capture the individual title at 9-under 207. He birdied his 16th hole of the day on the par-5 seventh to break a tie and earn the victory. Callas, who was playing as one of six individuals without full teams at the regional, climbed from 30th to sixth to first over his three days with scores of 71-69-67 and will play at Nationals as an individual.
"I didn't play too well at the beginning of the season, but the last three or four tournaments I've been playing real well," said Callas. "The last two holes, I missed a 10-footer and a 6-footer. I feel like I really could have taken it low.
"I wish my team could have been here. I came out here and all I had to do was play for myself and see where it took me," said Callas, who shot 4-under 32 on the front nine (his back nine after starting on No. 10) to rally for the win. "It's different because I'm usually playing for the team, not myself. When I'm out there, I really try to play one shot at a time. Whether it's for myself or for the team, it should be the same."
He will be joined at Nationals by Chris Stroud of Lamar, who used a final-round 70 to solidify his spot as one of the two individuals to advance after finishing the tournament at 6-under-par 210.
Patrick Nagle of Illinois was second individually, shooting 69 on Saturday to finish at 8-under 208. Judd Easterling of Wichita State, who was tied for the lead after the second round with Jason Moon of N.C. State, had a 72 to tie for third at 209 with J.J. Wall of Texas, who had the low round of the day with a 66. Moon shot a 73 to tie for fifth at 210.
Hunter Mahan, ranked first in the nation in the latest Golfweek individual ratings, had a 4-under 68 to pace the Cowboys on Saturday. Par Nilsson and Alex Noren shot 2-under 70s, with Chris Clarke and Zack Robinson carding 74 in Saturday's third round.
"I'm pleased that we played well today," said Oklahoma State head coach Mike Holder. "I'm pleased with the way we played yesterday. I was happy with the way we played yesterday morning on the 10th hole in pretty brutal conditions.
"The two teams that were playing with us, Texas and TCU, put themselves behind the 8-ball on that hole right there and somewhat for the tournament," said Holder. "We played it even-par and that set the tone for the whole round.I was glad that we got some wind and some rain yesterday, which helped put some space between some of the teams, because this regional has got more depth in it by far than the other two."
Other teams qualifying for the Nationals from the Central Regional were North Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, SMU, Minnesota, Arkansas.
