(Photo submitted)
(Photo submitted)

Hawks tie for 11th in NCAA Tournament

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Huntingdon men's golf team shot a 5-over-par 293 in the final round of the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship on Friday.

The Hawks finished with a four-round total of 1189 and tied for 11th in the 18-team field at Grandover Resort. Methodist University won its 12th title with a 7-over 1159. Washington and Lee was second with an 18-over 1170.

"We got a little better everyday but it wasn't our week," Huntingdon Director of Golf Dave Schreyer said.  "We definitely had enough fire power this year but we just never gelled.

"I am very happy for senior Jon Colten Stanaland. He played great this week and he ended his college career playing some great golf."

Despite tying for 11th, the Hawks' four-round total was 15 strokes better than Huntingdon's 2016 runner-up finish and one stroke better than last season's tie for fourth in the NCAA Tournament. The 1189 is tied for the Hawks' third best four-round total during the NCAA era.

Stanaland and junior Stephen Shephard led Huntingdon and finished with two of the top four-round scores by a Hawk in the NCAA Tournament. Stanaland shot an even-par 72 in the final round and finished tied for 18th with a 5-over 293. Shephard shot a 2-over 74 and finished tied for 29th with a 7-over 295.

Stanaland's 293 is tied for the third best 72-hole total by a Huntingdon golfer during the NCAA era, matching the NCAA Championship totals of Shephard and Addison Lambeth last season.

Shephard's 295 is tied for the sixth best four-round total by a Hawk during the NCAA era, matching the NCAA Championship totals of Lambeth (2016), Sam Strachan (2012) and Jacob Collinsworth (2007).

Behind Stanaland and Shephard, junior Mark Connelly shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and tied for 51st with a 12-over 300. Sophomore Drew Mathers shot a 1-over 73 in the final round and tied for 54th with a 13-over 301. Sophomore Alex Aulerich shot 77 in the final round and finished with a four-round 313.

Washington and Lee's Brian Peccie and Concordia University-Texas' Logan Young each finished at 3-under 285. Peccie won the individual title in a three-hole playoff.