Golf takes fourth at Matlock Collegiate Classic
The field included the defending national champions, West Florida University, along with several other highly ranked teams. Peach Belt Conference foes Columbus State University and Clayton State University were also present at the host site, Lone Palm Golf Club.
GCSU entered the spring kickoff ranked No. 6 in the Golf World/NIKE Golf Division II Coaches’ Poll, third overall behind PBC rivals No. 5 Columbus State and No. 1 University of South Carolina at Aiken.
Before departing for the Florida trip, the lineup saw a shake up. Brazilian talent Pedro Lima was sidelined by a stomach ailment, sending redshirt sophomore Matthew Yonz in his place. Yonz got the go-ahead because of his sixth-place finish in recent qualifying.
Even without Lima, the squad still had a chance to contend at the Matlock. Play began with 36 nonstop holes on Monday
Gusty winds in the opening round challenged most teams, as 12 of 15 schools shot over par. Newberry College negotiated the breeze with a four-under-par 284 for an early lead. Columbus State’s Michael Hicks and Clayton State’s Will Wilcox had the two lowest individual marks at 67 and 68 respectively.
GCSU posted a less than spectacular 293 with a low of 72 and a high of 75. Sophomore Billy Shida was the only Bobcat to match par.
Monday’s second round gave the competitors some reprieve. Lone Palm’s defense is a steady breeze, meaning a calmer atmosphere in round two opened up the birdie gates. Seven teams shot par or better the second go round. Clayton State’s eleven-under-par 277 scorched all challengers, giving them a commanding 12-shot advantage over second place Newberry.
Wilcox continued his strong play, shooting 67 in round two, as his individual lead grew to five.
The Bobcats’ second round 290 left them in eighth place after day one. Junior Niclas Johansson, Shida and Yonz were all tied for 22nd with 146 totals. Sophomore Joe Young and Junior Francisco Bide were at 147 and 149.
Head Coach Jimmy Wilson said the guys could not get anything going. He described the early play as mediocre.
Though the GCSU golfers’ scores were tightly packed, the lack of under-par scores left them treading water after two rounds. Considering the Bobcats were only seven shots out of second, a decent finish remained attainable.
On the final day, GCSU heated up despite a pulled muscle hampering Young’s output.
The team score got as low as eight-under-par, but some late round struggles pushed the end result back to a one-under, 287 on the day. GCSU moved into fourth place behind the University of West Florida, Columbus State and the champion Clayton State.
Clayton Wilcox shot a final round 70 for an 11-under-par total, giving him the individual title.
The Bobcats were one of two squads posting under-par team rounds the final day. Yonz and Johansson paced the attack with rounds of 70 and 69. Johansson finished in a tie for eighth, while Yonz’s tenth-place tie was a career best. A lone bogey on the last hole prevented Yonz from a round in the 60s.
“It makes me feel good, and I know I can do it again,” Yonz said. “I’ll be able to handle it and finish better next time.”
Shida’s closing 73 left him in 20th. Bide and Young could never catch a rhythm, as they finished several shots back of their teammates.
Wilson is not disappointed with the finish, considering it was the first tournament of the spring.
“We’ll be fine,” Wilson said. “It just wasn’t our week.”
Continuing a long tournament stretch, the Bobcats play the Pirate Invitational in Savannah, Ga. next week, Feb. 23-24.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 20 2009. Filed under Sports.
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