Transy Men's Golf Team Finishes 2nd at NCAA Championship

Release courtesy of Transylvania University

HOWIE-IN-THE-HILLS, FL - Transylvania captured a second-place finish Friday in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship, by far its best finish in the national tournament in six appearances.

National Championship Final Results

The Pioneers finished behind only wire-to-wire winner Oglethorpe. Led by hard-charging Justin Tereshko and Hunter Frazier, Transy made up nine shots over top-ranked Methodist to secure the runnerup position. Transy's final round score of 299 over the El Campeon Course was the best of the day, bettering Oglethorpe by five shots.

"I was really proud of the way our guys battled back after our rough opening round," said Transy head coach Brian Lane. "We really buckled down and competed the last three rounds and played the way we knew we were capable of. This performance is a great confidence-builder heading into next season."

Lane said the team dedicated the tournament to Harry Stephenson, a long-time school administrator and coach who passed away earlier this week at age 95. Lane played golf for Stephenson and followed him as head golf coach eight years ago.

"We wanted to make Harry proud of us," said Lane. "We didn't quit and kept grinding. I think he would have been happy about that."

Transy got off to a rough start, standing in 18th place after the first round. Tereshko, the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, struggled to an 82 on Day 1, a round that included an ace, but he was even par for the rest of the week. He shot a 72 on Friday to finish tied for 17th at 298.

Frazier had a 74 Friday for a total of 303, which left him 40th individually. Clay Hinton carded a final day 76 and tied for 31st at 301. Jantzen Latham had an 80 and was also at 301. James Dawson's 77 gave him a total of 304, which was good enough for 44th place.

Methodist led Transy by nine strokes heading into the final round, but the Pioneers caught up on the final holes and got second alone when Methodist recorded a bogey on the last hole, giving Transy a one-shot edge. Oglethorpe finished with a total of 1171 while Transy came in at 1191, one shot clear of Methodist.

Claremont Mudd Scripps was next at 1196, with Redlands at 1197 and Tyler-Texas at 1201.

Transy's previous best national golf championship showing was an 11th-place finish in 2008.

Individually, Oglethorpe teammates Anthony Maccaglia and Hayden Jones finished one-two. Maccaglia led from the first day and had a final round of 75 to finish at 282. Jones was in with a 288 after a 74. Dex Reese of Illinois Wesleyan and Jeremy Sanders of Redlands tied for third at 290. Reese had a 69 and Sanders a 74.

Transy's first player teed off about 9 a.m. Friday, but the round wasn't completed until nearly 5 p.m. Lightning delayed play mid-way through the afternoon.