The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
NCAA East Regional
Men's Golf Heads To Second Consecutive NCAA Championship.
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 18, 2002
ROSWELL, Ga. - For the second consecutive year, the UAB men's golf team is heading to the NCAA Championship.
But, it wasn't until the very end that the Blazers knew their fate.
On the last hole, South Alabama had a chance to move up into sole possession of ninth place, putting the Blazers and Florida in a tie for 10th and what would have been a sudden death playoff. South Alabama's No. 1 player posted an eight on the 18th hole, which allowed both UAB and Florida to take hold of the final two spots.
"It really came down to the wire," said head coach Alan Kaufman. "Drew mad a great two-putt for par on 18 and Craig made a perfect up and down for us. If South Alabama had made a five or six, we would have had a playoff."
The Blazers finished the day with a 297 to finish tied for ninth at the NCAA East Regionals held at Ainsley Golf Club's Settin' Down Creek. The 899 total put the Blazers one shot ahead of 11th place finisher Wake Forest.
And the Blazers came through under pressure advancing with only four scores. Sophomore Chad Goodwin, who has been battling a wrist injury for the past week had to pull out of the final round.
Individually, All-American Graeme McDowell was the top finisher for UAB. The Portrush, Northern Ireland native finished tied for eighth after firing an even-par 72 on the difficult 7,119-yard layout. McDowell finished the tournament with a 3-over par 219 to garner his tenth top-10 finish of the year.
Freshman Ryan Thomas also posted an even-par 72 on the day putting him at 224 and a 33rd place finish. Senior's Drew Jones and Craig Gordon rounded out the Blazer squad with a 76 and 77, respectively.
"We are very thrilled to be going to our second consecutive NCAA Championship," added Kaufman.
The NCAA Championship will run from May 29-June 1 in Columbus, Ohio at the Scarlet Course.
