DICKSON, Tenn. – The No. 1 Argos are Gulf South Conference Champions again for the fourth straight season and the 22nd time in program history after shooting 842 (-22) and beating out second-place Lee by one stroke.
UWF men's golf will end its era with the Gulf South Conference on top yet again and has more championship titles than anyone in the conference's history.
"This week I had so many different thoughts and feelings," said head coach
Steve Fell. "I began coaching in 1995 which was our first year in the GSC. That year we came back from 19 shots behind in the final round to win by a shot over Valdosta. That would be the first of 22 GSC titles in my career. Being the winningest coach in GSC golf history is something I really never dreamed of happening. It all culminated to today at our last GSC Championship winning by a shot over number two, Lee in a heavy weight battle. I cut my teeth as a coach in the GSC and it's been a very strong conference for the program. I'm glad we could go out on top to bookend our GSC era."
The Argos led the tournament throughout all three rounds, but second place finisher Lee University made a surge to tighten the gap leading to a close finish between the top two nationally ranked teams in the country.
When UWF needed someone to step up it was team leader
Cooper Tendick who came through. The senior eagled the par 5 No. 9 hole to close out the round helping the Argos escape the Lee comeback attempt by a single stroke. Tendick finished the round three under par and tied for fifth place overall at five under par.
Per Ekelund saved his best round for the final day to help position the Argos as champions once again. Ekelund produced a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) to lead the team. The junior had five birdies on the day, including a much-needed birdie on closing hole No. 9 to help seal the victory.
It was a two-team race the majority of the way for the GSC crown. After day one, UWF led by three strokes over Lee with the Argos shooting -4 and Lee at -1. In round two the Flames cut the deficit by one with and eight-under compared to UWF's seven under par. In the final round both teams had their best days of the tournament with the Argos going -11 and Lee at -12, giving UWF the one stroke win.
TJ Thompson also put together a solid showing shooting 211 (-5) for the tournament. He tied for fifth place individually.
Max Page finished under par at 215 (-1) playing a very consistent three rounds.
The Argos will move on to the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Region Championship beginning on May 7 at Valdosta Country Club in Valdosta, Ga.
