Post Falls Short of Making NCAA National Golf Tournament
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DANIELS, WV – The number 326 will remain in the mind of the Post Eagle Golf team as the score that cost them a chance to play in the NCAA National Tournament. Post shot a 326 in the first round of the NCAA Superregional, a 309 in round two, and a 311 in the third round. The Eagles missed the cut by 13 strokes.
“We picked a bad time to play shabby,” said Eagles Coach Pete Stevens. “Our first round did not help us any. We did not help ourselves. We just didn’t play well. There are no excuses.”
To qualify for the NCAA National Tournament teams needed to place in the top 5. In addition, two athletes could earn a trip to play for individual honors if they were the top two golfers on teams that did not place in the top 5.
“Disappointed, that is all I can say,” said senior captain Jamie Blake. “The first round did it to us. We played well the second and third rounds, but it was too much to make up. I am proud of this team. We gave it a shot, but it was not to be. Maybe next year.”
The conditions throughout the three day tournament challenged Post through each round of play. Rains plagued the event forcing participants to play in less than optimal conditions. On the first day, Post played in the morning while the weather was still raining on and off. The Eagles were 15th after the first round.
When day two rolled around, the Eagles original tee times where pushed back over three hours due to thunderstorms and rain. Once underway late Tuesday afternoon for the second round, it began to rain heavily. Standing water pooled up on several greens halting play once again. At that point Jamie Blake, the Eagle’s number one player, had not even teed-off for his first hole.
Following the second rain delay, Post played for another hour until darkness settled on the Cobb Course. They were forced to pick up the second round Wednesday morning and ended the round with a 309.
Following a brief break, the third round began under a shotgun format. Post was in 10th place heading into the final round. Although rain was expected to inhibit play in the third round it was not a factor. There was only a brief period of precipitation during the afternoon.
In the final round Post started out on the back nine. Jamie Blake (78-78-75) played well on his first couple of holes, but bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes. He pared the rest of the holes including a birdie on the 4th, but bogeyed once again on the 9th. Blake will missed the individual cut by 3 stokes.
Lee Wanklyn (82-78-84) played consistently for Post until the third round. Wanklyn started on the back nine and struggled with two double bogeys. On the front nine he shot 3 over par on the 8th hole and finished the round +12.
David McGregor (82-75-75) continued to create a name for himself throughout the tournament and has put himself in position to be one of the leaders of this Eagle club next season. His strong round was the second, as he remained mentally tough through the rain. He had three birdies in the third round.
Gavin Wilson (82-78-81) in his first appearance at the NCAA Superregional had a best round of 78 in the second round. He may have left some on the table though. After having two birdies he had 3 double bogeys on the back nine.
Jon Lussier (87-78-80) struggled on the first day of the tournament and rebounded in the second and third rounds. His best round was the second shooting at 78. He registered a birdie and shot par for 10 of the 18 holes.
Post has yet to make the NCAA National Tournament in school history.