May 16, 2008

Pioneers Finish 16th at NAIA Nationals

 
The Malone College men's golf team finished 16th among a 28-team field at the NAIA National Championships in Plymouth, Indiana (Indiana National Golf Club) last Tuesday through Friday.  The Pioneers tallied a four-day score of 1218 (305-304-303-306) as the University of British Columbia (CAN) won the team championship with a four-over-par 1156 (294-281-289-292).  Oklahoma Christian University took second (1168), Oklahoma City University was third (1172), Johnson & Wales (FL) University came in fourth (1173) and Wayland Baptist (TX) University rounded out the top five (1178).
    
Malone made the three-day cut (only the top 17 teams of 28 make the cut to play the final round) and posted their final position of 16th to basically match their final NAIA national ranking of 14th.
    
 Freshman Justin Lower (Northwest H.S.) paced Malone by finishing in a tie for 10th place overall with a +5 final score of 293 (74-70-73-76) to make the NAIA Nationals All-Tournament Team (top 15).  Lower became just the seventh Malone golfer to accomplish the feat and, by virtue of making this unit, automatically qualifies for next year's national tournament.  In addition, he made the five-person All-Freshmen Team.  NAIA All-American voting will take place later this week.
    
Ben Smith (So., Carrollton H.S.) followed Lower with a 304 total (74-78-74-78) to finish 47th overall.  Other Malone scores included Michael Strayer (So., Riverside H.S.) in 75th at 312 (78-79-78-77), Darren Phipps (Sr., Lake H.S.) in 83rd at 320 (79-77-78-86) and Matt Strayer (Sr., Riverside H.S.) in 84th at 321 (81-85-80-75).
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