Published: May 08, 2008 12:48 am            

Falcon golfers finish third in East Regional

MIDDLETOWN, Del. — The scene here on the final day of the NCAA Division II East Regional Golf Tournament was eerily similar to last year.

However, this time Fairmont State couldn’t pull out the come from behind win.

Last spring FSU rallied from two shots down on the final three holes to topple Indiana (Pa.) University and claim the East Regional title.

Wednesday on the final 18 holes of the three-day, 54-hole event here at the par-71 Back Creek Course at The Saint Annes Golf Club sixth-seeded FSU found itself tied with top-seeded and eventual champion IUP with three holes to play. But this time it was the Falcons who stumbled down the stretch and wound up finishing third in the eight-team tournament with a three-day total of 935.

“We were tied with three holes to play, but unlike last year we did not finish well,” said Falcon coach Michael Walker.

Last year Fairmont’s four scorers played the final four holes on the Jones Course at the Speidel Golf Club four-under par. Wednesday FSU’s four scorers were 12-over par on the final three holes.

IUP won the East Regional with a three-day total of 924. West Liberty rallied late and finished second with a 926. Following FSU were Clarion (Pa.) University (938), Ohio Valley University (948), the University of Charleston (950), Millersville (Pa.) University (971) and Concord University (972).

None of the top three finishers enjoyed stellar final rounds in the tournament. As a team IUP was 41 over par in the last round, West Liberty was 34 over par and Fairmont State ended up 48 over.

“The winds blew harder today than they did all week and they rolled the greens and since we had no rain they were harder and faster than the first two days,” said Walker. “Because the greens were so hard they were really difficult to hold.

“It just seemed like we never adjusted to that as a team, but then again no one really did today.”

The low team round Wednesday was turned in by fifth-place Ohio Valley which carded a 28-over par finish.

Clarion’s Jared Schmader was the medalist for the event finishing with a three-day, nine-over par total of 222. Shepherd’s Trevor Hedges, who was playing in the tournament as an individual, and West Liberty’s Matt Hicks tied for second with 225s.

Fairmont State’s top finisher in the region was senior Justin Caroli, who ended up tied for ninth overall with a 229. Caroli had an 11-over 82 Wednesday after shooting the low round of the entire tournament Tuesday when he carded a three-under 68. FSU junior Zack Rudy, the opening-round leader, finished tied for 17th with a three-day total of 236. He shot an 85 in the final round.

Sophomore Jeff Cunningham, who battled a bleeding hand injury during the final nine holes Wednesday, ended up with a final round 87 and finished 20th overall individually in the tournament with a 237.

Falcon senior Will Gautreau battled back from a troublesome round Tuesday and posted FSU’s best score in the final round finishing with a seven-over par 78. He ended the tournament tied for 24th with a 240.

Freshman Dylan Alasky shot an 89 Wednesday and ended up tied for 39 overall with a three-day total of 254.

“We caught a few tough breaks,” said Walker. “Today just wasn’t our day.

“Still, I’m very proud of the guys on this team. We came into this tournament seeded sixth and we were in contention to win it right to the last three holes. The guys really gave it a good run and who knows if a couple of those breaks would’ve gone our way we likely would’ve been going back to the national finals.”

IUP, though, will represent the East Region in the NCAA Finals which will be played later this month in Houston, Texas.

The tournament brought a close to the highly-successful college careers of both Caroli and Gautreau at Fairmont State.

“Those two both enjoyed unbelievable careers for us,” said Walker. “I don’t know what the record books in golf say at Fairmont State, but those two have to be considered as two of the best to have ever played at Fairmont.

“They definitely played huge roles in our success here the past few years and they’re both definitely going to be missed a lot next season. One good thing, though, is Justin still has a year of school remaining and he’s going to come back next year and serve as a student assistant coach for our program.”

        

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