DIV 2
Union golf finishes 21st in national tournament
The Union University golf team improved their team score in each of the three rounds played in the 2012 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. Union shot a team best 308 in Thursday's third round. However, just like the second round, the majority of the other teams also improved their scores, making it hard for Union to make up ground. Union finished 21st in the 29-team field, missing the cut for a third straight season. Union was just nine shots off the cut line of +64 that included the top 17 teams. Union will not play in Friday's final round.
Union shot a 318 in the first round and sat in 19th place after the first day. Union then fired a second round 311 but dropped to 21st place after day two.
Union's Brett Barry was in 12th place after a first round 74 (+2)first round, but second and third rounds of five over par dropped him to a tie for 59th in the field. He shot a 3-day total of 228.
Kyle Long was second on Union's team with a 232, tied for 87th place in the tournament. His best round was the third round when he fired a one over 73. His 73 was the best round for a Union golf this tournament.
Ben Waits finished tied for 120th (239), Charlie Pittman finished tied for 125th (242), while Steven Coffelt posted a 158 over the final two rounds, after withdrawing from the first round due to an injury.
Round Two Recap: Union golf in 21st place after second round
The Union University men's golf team were seven shots better in round two than round one. Union fired a 311 in the second round of the 2012 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. Union shot 318 in the first round.
However, 26 of the 29 teams in the field also improved on their first round scores. Union was not able to improve on their 18th place spot after round one, and fell to 21st place going into the third round. A cut will be made after the third round with the top 15 or so teams making the cut.
Union's Brett Barry followed his first round 74 with a 77 in the second round. He dropped from 12th place to 33rd place going into the third round. Ben Waits improved his second day score by three shots, shooting a 77. Kyle Long improved by one shot with a 79. Steven Coffelt, who withdrew after three holes in the first round due to injury, fired a 78 in the second round. Charlie Pittman improved the most for Union, shooting a second round 80, four shots better than his first round.
Union will need to make up ground in the third round if they want to extend their stay in the national tournament into the final round on Friday. Union has a chance as they are just six shots out of 15th place.
Round One Recap: Union men's golf 18th after first round, Barry 12th
The Union University men's golf team is in 18th place at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships after first round action Tuesday. Play was stopped during the round because of wet condition, but resumed in time for the teams to complete the first round. The event is being played at Canebrake Golf Club in Salem, Oregon.
The 18th position for Union is the highest spot the Bulldogs have held in their string of three straight national tournament appearances. Union was 22nd after round one last season and moved up to finish 19th, missing the cut by just six strokes.
Union fired a first round 318 (+30). The team started off the round playing well, but slowed as the day progressed. Union was led by TranSouth Player of the Year Brett Barry with a first round 74 (+2). Barry produced two eagles in the round, including his first hole of the day. Barry's 74 puts him in a tie for 12th Ben Waits and Kyle Long both shot 8-over for a score of 80, while Charlie Pittman shot 84. Steven Coffelt, Union's top finisher in last year's national tournament, withdrew after the third hole due to an injury.
Union tees off today at 10:40 a.m. for second round action.
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