Bronco Golf Concludes Season At NCAA West Regionals

Posted: May 21, 2006

May 21, 2006

Final Results in PDF Format
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TUCSON, Ariz. - The most successful season in Santa Clara University men's golf history came to a close Saturday evening at the Omni Tucson National Golf Course as the Broncos finished play in the NCAA West Regional. SCU shot a final-round team score of 285 to improve two spots and finish 21st in the field of 27.

Santa Clara concluded its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Regionals with a three-day total of 876 (+12). With Saturday's final round, a season which saw the team win fouyr tournaments and finish in the top five in eight of nine competitions comes to a close.

Saturday afternoon was much kinder to the Broncos than the previous day's had been, as a pair of SCU golfers turned in under-par rounds for the day and one shot even-par.

Eric Lillibridge shot a four-under 68 in his final round of the season, finishing the tournament at a total score of 214 (-2), good for a tie for 46th in the individual competition. John Colyar shot a one-under 71 for the day on his way to finishing the tournament at seven-over, while fellow senior Michael Nicoletti ended his SCU career with an even-par 72 to finish at two-over 218 for the tournament.

Tim Lynch shot a final-day 74 to finish the regional with a score of 224, while Jong Yoon carded a 77 to end with a 229 over the three days.

In team competition, host Arizona and Florida combined for 46 birdies and three eagles en route to topping the field by 13 strokes. After 54 holes of action, Arizona and Florida carded identical 37-under-par totals of 827.

The regional win was the sixth NCAA regional crown for Arizona, which is the second most in the country, and the third for Florida.

Florida freshman Billy Horschel and Nevada senior Casey Watabu tied for individual medalist honors with 13-under 203 totals. Horschel carded a six-under 66 Saturday, while Watabu fired an eight-under 64, the low individual round of the tournament, to top the 141-man field.

Also qualifying for the 2006 NCAA Championships, May 31-June 3, at the Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Ore., were Brigham Young, Loyola Marymount, East Tennessee State, Pepperdine and Nevada, and individuals Dustin Pimm of Utah and James Love of Denver.

Team Standings

1. Arizona 279-273-275=827 (-37)

Florida 273-282-272=827 (-37)

3. Arizona State 284-273-283=840 (-24)

Washington 288-281-271=840 (-24)

5. North Carolina State 282-273-290=845 (-19)

6. Brigham Young 282-288-277=847 (-17)

Loyola Marymount 284-281-282=847 (-17)

8. East Tennessee State 284-280-285=849 (-15)

9. Pepperdine 283-287-281=851 (-13)

Nevada 282-287-282=851 (-13)

11. New Mexico State 287-283-286=856 (-8)