It’s going to be a tense week for the Pitt State men’s golf team, as they eagerly await the NCAA decision on whether they will reach the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional Championship. Pitt State will find out their fate this Sunday.
The week began, however, with the MIAA men’s golf championship being held in Jefferson City, Missouri. Pitt State came into the week ranked #6 in the NCAA Division II Central Regional rankings, before coming in for a 9th place finish at the MIAA golf championship.
The Gorillas finished just ahead of Rogers State University and Missouri Southern State University, who tied for tenth out of the 11 team field.
Pitt State over three days shot +47 (+24/+11/+12) with seior Mason White the best individual finisher in 22nd at +9 (+7/-1/+3). sophomore Tyler Hardtarfer finished in 39th at +14 (+5/+8/+1), sophomore Jack Randall in 44th at +15 (+3/+7/+5), freshman David Hobart in 49th at +19 (+9/+6/+4) and sophomore Cooper Forth subbed in to compete in the third round, finishing the day at +4.
White and junior Keaton Thissen both tied for third with a -1 in the second round of play, marking the only top ten finish in the three-round tournament. Thissen would end up placing 55th overall in the competition.
Central Oklahoma repeated as the team champions at -11 (+5/-6/-10) with all five members of the team finishing in the top 10. Baylor Bostick from UCO claimed the individual title at – 7 for the week (+2/-5/-4).
Pitt State has had a largely successful season this year, just the second year they’ve been back since the 2013-2014 season. The highlight of the season was naturally when the Gorillas won the Maverick Desert Classic, placing first overall in the 13 team tournament. White placed first overall in the tournament, hitting a -2, with a pair of birdies and a eagle. The team led the tournament in both doubles and birdies.
Moments like these will become increasingly important to the team this week, as they make their case for selection to the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional Championship on May 7 in Big Rapids, Michigan. Division II is split into eight regions, with four different regional titles. If the Gorillas do not make the selection, their season will be over.
Pitt State currently sits at sixth in the Central Region, with MIAA opponent Central Oklahoma currently sitting at first overall in the Central Region. Fellow MIAA opponents Central Missouri and Washburn also rank ahead of Pitt State. In the national rankings, Pitt State has not received any votes, while Central Oklahoma is ranked seventh overall in the country, marking the only MIAA team in the national rankings.