Men's Golf Advances to National Championship with A Fourth-Place Regional Finish

Wednesday, May 18

Stillwater, Okla.

All Day

University of Louisville

NCAA Regional

Men's Golf Advances to National Championship with A Fourth-Place Regional Finish

May 18, 2016 | Men's Golf

Keegan de Lange and Robin Sciot-Siegrist finish in the top 10

By: Rocco Gasparro

STILLWATER, Okla. – University of Louisville head men's golf coach Mark Crabtree knew heading into the NCAA Stillwater Regional that his young team would face one of the toughest golf courses in the country, and the 17th-year head coach was certainly correct.

Through the three-day event, which included rain and wind, the Karsten Creek Golf Course put up big scores, but the Cardinals were able to find a way to advance to the national championship with a fourth-place finish behind a 43-over-par 907.

Despite all 14 teams finishing over par and no individuals shooting under par for the regional, Crabtree's team is advancing to the NCAA Division I Golf Championships for the third time in school history, the first time since 2008.

The Cardinals will be one of 30 schools competing at the NCAA Championships at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from May 27-June 1.

"I'm very proud of all those guys," Crabtree said. "I thought the effort was there all week. For Simon Zach to go out and shoot one of the best rounds of the day as a freshman was great, and our All-American Robin Sciot-Siegrist to shoot even par was also a great accomplishment.

"They are a great group to work with, and as a coach, I'm happy that they will get a chance to play in the national championship."

Despite the challenges of the course, the Cardinals had two players finish in the top 10 in senior Robin Sciot-Siegrist and freshman Keegan de Lange. Sciot-Siegrist, a two-time ACC champion, finished the tournament at 7-over par.

Entering the final day, Sciot-Siegrist was 7-over-par, but responded Wednesday with an even-par 72, tallying birdies on Nos. 1 and 18.

"For what Robin has accomplished in his career, I'm glad he is able to take his team to play in the national championship," Crabtree added. "It's fitting way to end to his career. Last year, he played as an individual and he was disappointed that his teammates weren't there with him. I'm really happy that this time he gets to go with his teammates."

De Lange also tied for 10th in the regional, carding a 7-over-par 223. Playing in a regional for the first time, de Lange was steady all week recording 34 pars and registered only his second top-10 finish in an event.

Another freshman, Simon Zach was the story on Wednesday and was a huge reason the Cardinals advanced. He was one of only a handful of players to shoot under par, firing a 1-under par 71. He tied for 17th overall, which included an opening round of 8-over-par 80.

Zach started off strong, earning birdies on three of the first five holes and only recording two bogeys on the day, while De Lange also birdied two of his first four, including one on No. 4, when he knocked his approach shot just one inch from the hole.

J.D. Lehman tied for 52nd overall at 24-over par, and Erik Dulik tied for 57th at 25-over par.

Entering the day with a one-shot lead on Augusta and a two-stroke advantage over McNeese State, the Cardinals held off both schools by shooting 8-over par – their best round of the regional. Augusta finished five shots behind the Cardinals, while McNeese State was 17 back from UofL.

Oklahoma State won the tournament by shooting 7-over par 871 and Oklahoma was second at 26-over par (890). ACC foe Clemson was third at 37-over par (901). Purdue was the fifth team to qualify after finishing behind the Cardinals at 46-over par.