April 22, 2008

Men's Golf Has Season Best Round to Place Third

Bednar Shoots 66, Finishes 2nd; Lopers Could Be Heading to Cali

Team/Player Results .... Course Stats  

     Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's golf team kept it's postseason hopes alive by shooting a season-low 287 over the final 18 holes of the Northwest Regional Spring Head-to-Head Tournament Tuesday in Parker, Colo.

      The 13-team tournament was played at the par 72 The Pinery C.C. and hosted by Colorado School of Mines.

      This tournament, along with a similar one in the fall, features all schools in the RMAC and NCC (North Central Conference) that sponsor men's golf. These two events are the major factors in what eight teams make the "Super Regional", the first phase of the NCAA Division II Championships, in May.

       Last September, UNK shot a 938 to place ninth in the first head-to-head tournament.

      UNK had rounds of 314 and 310 on Monday to sit in fifth place. The Lopers needed to make up some ground on Tuesday, not only in the tournament but in the regional standings as well.

      Led by a six under par from junior Andy Bednar, the Lopers finished in third place with a 911. RMAC power Colo.-Colo. Springs (894) won the tournament going away with Western New Mexico second (908).

      UNK's best round prior to Tuesday came just last weekend in the first round of the RMAC Championships (293).

      Bednar, who led the tournament with 14 birdies, finished runner up (218/76-76-66) by one stroke. Tyler Bishop of UCCS shot a 69 in the first round, then had identical efforts of 74 to earn medalist honors.

      The 66 is one of the lowest scores turned in by a Loper the last decade. Both Curtis Garver and Brant Arends had efforts of 64 in the early 2000's.

      Also on Tuesday, Kearney sophomore Alex Farrell shot an even par 72 to tie for 19^th overall (230) with Broken Bow junior Preston Foster having a one over par 73 in his final 18 to also shoot a 230.

      Finally, Ord sophomore Devon Kastler tied for 34^th (234/80-78-76) and Gering sophomore Max Hadenfeldt came in 58^th place (248/91-78-79).

      This year, the Northwest/West Super Regional will be May 5-7 in Petaluma, Calif. UCCS earned an automatic bid to the event by winning the RMAC. The other seven spots will be at-large selections and be announced later in the week.

      It would appear UNK would make the event for a seventh straight year. Adding up scores from both head-to-head events, UNK and Ft. Lewis are tied for sixth place (1849).