2008 Woodie Awards
Golf 'Cats earn bid to national tourney
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Sports
For the first time in three years, the Southwest Baptist golf team will be going as a team to the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships. Friday, April 27, the Bearcats learned that they were one of 80 teams selected to participate in the five Super Regional Tournaments that make up the first round of the national tournament. The 'Cats will play Monday through Wednesday, May 7-9 in the 16-team Central / Great Lakes Super Regional.
Hosted by fellow MIAA member Missouri Southern State, the Central / Great Lakes Super Regional will be played at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin. Two of the 10 Division II regions, the Central and Great Lakes regions, will be represented at the Joplin Super Regional.
Six of the eight teams representing the Central Region are from the MIAA. Conference champion Washburn is the region's top seed followed by Central Missouri (2), Missouri Southern (3) and Missouri Western State (4). SBU (7) and Truman State (8) will also represent the conference with Bemidji State (5) and defending Central Regional champion Winona State (6) being the only non-MIAA schools.
According to SBU Head Golf Coach Kevin Cribbs, the five-man tournament team will include freshmen Brad Nipper and Justin Sellin, sophomore Matt Hefley and juniors Clay Brandenburgh and Garrett Smith.
For Brandenburgh, the trip to Joplin will mark the third consecutive year that he has competed in the national tournament.
"Our goal this year was to get the team back to nationals," said Brandenburgh. "We went as a team my freshman year and I played last year as an individual. This year's team is the most talented we've had since I've been here. If we play the way we're capable of playing, we can compete with just about anybody in our region."
From the Super Regionals, the winning teams from each of the 10 Division II regions will advance to the national finals May 22-25 at The Meadows in Allendale, Michigan. In addition to the winning teams, the top individual players - not attached to the winning teams - will also qualify for the finals.
"It's been a fun year," said Brandenburgh. "We're a young team with a lot of potential. Now we've just got to put it all together."
Hosted by fellow MIAA member Missouri Southern State, the Central / Great Lakes Super Regional will be played at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin. Two of the 10 Division II regions, the Central and Great Lakes regions, will be represented at the Joplin Super Regional.
Six of the eight teams representing the Central Region are from the MIAA. Conference champion Washburn is the region's top seed followed by Central Missouri (2), Missouri Southern (3) and Missouri Western State (4). SBU (7) and Truman State (8) will also represent the conference with Bemidji State (5) and defending Central Regional champion Winona State (6) being the only non-MIAA schools.
According to SBU Head Golf Coach Kevin Cribbs, the five-man tournament team will include freshmen Brad Nipper and Justin Sellin, sophomore Matt Hefley and juniors Clay Brandenburgh and Garrett Smith.
For Brandenburgh, the trip to Joplin will mark the third consecutive year that he has competed in the national tournament.
"Our goal this year was to get the team back to nationals," said Brandenburgh. "We went as a team my freshman year and I played last year as an individual. This year's team is the most talented we've had since I've been here. If we play the way we're capable of playing, we can compete with just about anybody in our region."
From the Super Regionals, the winning teams from each of the 10 Division II regions will advance to the national finals May 22-25 at The Meadows in Allendale, Michigan. In addition to the winning teams, the top individual players - not attached to the winning teams - will also qualify for the finals.
"It's been a fun year," said Brandenburgh. "We're a young team with a lot of potential. Now we've just got to put it all together."
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