Men's Golf Advances; Goodwin Wins Stillwater Regional

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SCOTTSDALE BOUND! Men's Golf Advances As Goodwin Wins Stillwater Regional

STILLWATER, Okla. – SMU's Noah Goodwin won the NCAA Stillwater Regional by six strokes, powering the fourth-seeded Mustangs to advance to the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Mustangs finished third in the 13-team field at Karsten Creek, and were one of five teams to qualify for the NCAA Championships, held May 28-June 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club. SMU finished the event even par after 54 holes, to qualify for the finals site for the second consecutive postseason. The Mustangs were +6 on Tuesday.

Goodwin, who finished at -15, became the third SMU player to finish first or tie for first at an NCAA Regional since the format began in 1989. Mario Clemens won the 2013 Fayetteville (Arkansas) Regional and Matt Schovee tied for first at the 2012 Greensboro Regional, but lost the playoff to advance to the NCAA Championship. It is Goodwin's second career tournament victory, joining the 2019 Maridoe Intercollegiate.

Goodwin shot in the 60s in all three rounds at the Stillwater Regional, including a final-round 68. He had a tournament-best 16 birdies and added an eagle, compared to only three bogeys. Bo Jin of Oklahoma State was the next-closest competitor at -9. AJ Ott of Colorado State advanced to the NCAA Championships as the highest finishing individual not on an advancing team.

Host Oklahoma State won the regional at -28, followed by Illinois at -14. Sam Houston and Little Rock finish out the five representatives at the NCAA Championships from the region.

Mac Meissner wrote down an even-par 72 on his final-round scorecard, finishing the event tied for 30th at +6. Justin Thompson joined his teammate in the tie for 30th at +6, shooting a 74 at the 7,502-yard home course of Oklahoma State.

Nathan Petronzio was a stroke behind for a solo-35th finish at +7, and made two clutch birdies on No. 14 and No. 15 to help cement the Mustangs' place in Scottsdale. After four straight holes over par, the Mustangs were within five strokes of falling below the "red line," but Petronzio played his last six holes at -2 to help the team advance. Ollie Osborne finished 73rd at +22.

SMU has advanced to the NCAA Championships in each of the programs' last four trips to NCAA Regionals, advancing in 2014, 2015 and 2019. The Mustangs reached the NCAA Match Play Quarterfinals in 2014 and 2019, and produced the NCAA Individual Champion, Bryson DeChambeau, in 2015.

Notable: Goodwin's -15 is the second-best 54-hole score in SMU history, trailing just Jackson Markham's -16 at the 2020 Prestige Individual Tournament … The -15 matches the best score for any player at NCAA Regionals since Texas' Doug Ghim's -17 in at the 2018 Raleigh Regional … The -15 demolishes the 54-hole scoring record for an SMU player at NCAA Regionals, previously held by Bryson DeChambeau at -4.

[AusTxPony]

Wow, Noah! Now if Mac and Ollie can get on track for the next event...