Ponies Advance To NCAA Championship

[Mustangs35SMU]

For the third time in the past four years, the SMU men's golf team has advanced to the NCAA Championship after finishing ninth Saturday at the NCAA Central Regional in West Lafayette, Ind. SMU's final round score of 308 gave the Ponies a three round total of 909 (+45) for the tournament. Kentucky won the event with a three round total of 882 (+18). The Mustangs will next compete in the NCAA Championship June 1-4 in Hot Springs, Va.

The Ponies were led by the superior efforts of sophomore Will Dodson who posted a final round one under 71 to finish alone as the Central Regional runner-up with a three round total of 216 (E). Dodson finished just two strokes off the Central Regional medallist score of 214 (-2) recorded by Kentucky's John Holmes. Dodson's consistent third round included three birdies on the day.

Freshman Dan Kleckner fired a final round 79 to finish tied for 38th at 13 over (229) for the tournament. Jerad Harklau finished tied for 66th at 17 over (233), while junior Scott Abbott finished tied for 77th at 18 over (234). Freshman Colt Knost finished tied for 111th with a three round total of 242 (+26) on the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex - Kampen Course.

The Mustangs were one of 10 teams to advance out of the Central Regional, while 10 additional teams made it to the Big Dance out of the East and West Regional. The Mustangs finished 28th a year ago at the 2003 NCAA Championship in Stillwater, Okla. and took 15th place at the 2001 NCAA Championship in Durham, N.C.