May 21, 2011

Final Results in PDF Format

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Memphis golf team turned in a final-round 304 en route to a 54-hole total and 11th-place finish at the NCAA Central-Indiana Regional.

"We had a good year," University of Memphis head coach Grant Robbins said. "The guys were really disappointed in how they played, but that's a good thing."

Steve Lee (78-75-75--228) posted the lowest round (75) of the day for Memphis, finishing in a tie for 53rd with teammate Grant Milner (75-75-78--228).

Jack Belote, who was tied for the first-round lead and just three strokes back heading into Saturday's final round, was unable to recover from a 41 (+5) on his first nine holes. He carded a one-over-par 36 on the final nine to post a final-round 77 and finish in a tie for 20th position.

Jonathan Fly was the second-lowest finisher for the Tigers, carding a final-round 76 en route to a tournament-total of 222 and share of 34th place. Lexus Keoninh tamed Wolf Run's difficult back nine by going out in 35 (-1), but six bogeys on his final nine left him with a final round 76 and a share of 57th position.

The University of Memphis golf team poses after the second round of the NCAA Central-Indiana Regional.

The Tigers' 11th-place finish is the lowest finish in an NCAA Regional in school history, as the 2008 Tigers finished in a tie for 20th at the 2008 East Regional. Jack Belote's individual finish of tied for 20th is also the lowest individual finish by a Memphis player in an NCAA Regional.

"I think our inexperience really hurt us this week," Robbins said. "The guys really wanted to advance, but this experience will only motivate them to work harder over the summer and this will definitely make us a better team going into next season."

Michigan turned in a tournament-low team score of 275 (-9) in the final round to surge past Illinois (277-285-281--843) and Alabama (278-284-285--847) to win the team title. Those three schools along with Tennessee (287-297-281--865) and Iowa (285-289-291--865) will advance to the NCAA Championships on May 31-June 5 in Stillwater, Okla.

Luke Guthrie of Illinois (69-71-65--205) and Lion Kim of Michigan (71-69-65--205) each carded a tournament-low of 65 in the final round to tie for the individual title. Bud Cauley (Alabama) finished third with a 54-hole total of 207 (68-71-68--207). Lee Bedford of Wake Forest was the lowest individual not on the five qualifying teams with a tournament-total of 212 (73-70-69--212) and will advance to the NCAA Championships as an individual.