Charleston Southern University Athletics
2016 NCAA Regionals (Final Round)
Bucs post solid final round to finish 11th at Tuscaloosa Regional
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Charleston Southern looked a little more like the team that earned the first at-large NCAA berth in school history on Wednesday. The Buccaneers, after two disappointing rounds to open the event, posted a team 291 (+3) to climb two spots and finish 11th at the Tuscaloosa Regional at Ol' Colony Golf Club.
The Bucs were 19 strokes better than their Tuesday score to pass Harvard and Southern Illinois. CSU started the day 16 strokes back of No. 41 Kansas and nearly caught the Jayhawks to reach the Top 10.
CSU was 49-over on its first 27 holes as a team and only 3-over for the final 27. It was a confusing week for CSU Director of Golf Mike Wilson, but the final round-and-a-half looked familiar.
"Today was better and more like the team we were all year," Wilson said following Wednesday's round. "I'm proud of the way we finished the tournament, but still disappointed with the way it began. Had we played that way for three days, we might have been in the mix. This has been a good group to coach and the future is bright for CSU golf.
The SEC captured all five of the berths in next week's NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore. Top-seeded Georgia held true to its seed, finishing at 16-under to finish four strokes ahead of South Carolina (-12). Host Alabama (-7), Kentucky (-6), and Auburn (+3) all secured cross-country trips for the championship.
Sophomore Jake Ezell had the Bucs low round of the week with a 2-under 70 on Wednesday. He birdied three of his first five holes and had five birdies in his round to tie for 37th.
Seniors Taylor Zoller and Nico Baena both finished their career with solid rounds. Zoller put together a 1-over 73 with three birdies, while Baena had a 2-over round of 74, also with three birdies.
Sophomore R.J. Keur finished tied for 44th with 74 (+2) on Wednesday. He double bogeyed his opening hole and was 4-over at the turn, but had three birdies on the back nine to rally.
Junior Austin James closed with a 77 (+5). He hit 11 consecutive greensat one point, but couldn't get anything going with his putter.
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