BOULDER CITY, NV- It was never going to be easy. Battling with the top teams in the nation at Boulder Creek Golf Club at the NCAA National Championships, the #23 ranked Cougars had their backs against the wall heading into the final day of stroke play. They did not let that stop them, turning in their best round in the final round of play to advance to match play for the third straight season in an incredibly impressive feat for CCU.
ROUND ONE
Lance Christensen Jr. came out firing to begin the championships, carding three birdies in the first five holes en route to a 69 with 5 total birdies.
Peyton Jones came right behind him with a pair of birdies and an eagle on hole 16 for a 70. Newly crowned RMAC Golfer of the Year
Bradley Mulder and
Camron Reddell remained steady with even par 72s, while
Tyler Debruyckere closed with a 75.
ROUND TWO
Day two brought challenges for the Cougars as they battled to keep pace with the best in the country. Christensen Jr. continued his excellent tournament with a 70 in round two, closing the back nine on a tear with an eagle on 13 and three straight birdies on holes 16-18. Mulder shot a 73, while Reddell matched him with a 73 of his own. Jones and Debruyckere finished with 76s as CCU sat in 10th headed into the final day of play.
ROUND THREE
Needing to finish in the top 8 to advance to match play, the Cougars threw down their best round of the tournament when it counted most. Christensen Jr. once again led his team as he had his best round as a Cougar with a tremendous 64. The graduate student went bogey free with an eye popping three eagles and two birdies for a -8 64. The tremendous round was good enough for a second place finish for Lance on the biggest stage of DII golf.
Jones was clinical with a 69 on four birdies, while Mulder closed strong to card a 73. Debruyckere posted a 74, while Reddell finished with a 75. Finishing long before many teams both ahead and just behind the Cougars, CCU had to wait and see if they would qualify for match play. A nervy few hours ensued as CCU dropped into ninth after a strong charge from Cal State San Bernardino. An unlikely collapse from West Florida saw the defending National Champions and #1 ranked team in the country close with three bogeys and a pair of double bogeys in the final two holes to drop all the way to 10th and secure a spot in match play in eighth at -9 for CCU. It has been an incredible season thus far for the Cougars as they continue to show their pedigree on the biggest stage.
CCU will take on Florida Southern head to head tomorrow, May 21 at 9:20 a.m. MDT to try and advance to the semifinals. The Mocs are ranked #3 in the nation and finished first in stroke play. Reddell will tee off first against FSC's Tyler Mistretta, followed by Jones vs. Donte Groppuso, Christensen Jr. vs. Max Barile, Debruyckere vs. Anthony Monteleone and Mulder vs. Colton Swartz.
