Men's golf finishes 2nd in NCCAA Championship

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The Eagles golf team returned from Panama City, Florida with a second-place title from the National Christian College Athletic Association championship this week.

Senior Trey Payne, who led the Eagles for the first two days, said his team performed well despite not receiving the national champion award.

“I am definitely proud of our team,” Payne said. “We didn’t win like we wanted to, but I know this team works very hard, has a great attitude and gives it everything they got while competing. In the end, that’s all you can ask for.”

Before the tournament, Men’s Golf Head Coach David Lynn said he had confidence in his players’ ability because of one characteristic they’ve shown every week: a determination to compete.

“I see the desire in them to win and you don’t see that in every team, but this team exemplifies that,” Lynn said. “Really all I can ask of them is to hopefully get us in position around the lead for the last day so that they have a chance to compete and I think this group will have a chance to do that.”

The Eagles are no strangers to national tournaments. They took the NAIA National Champion title in 2009 and 2011, adding the NCCAA National Champion title in 2012. This year they looked to claim another championship title, and came within a mere five strokes of finishing first among the nine competing teams.

While Payne led the team for the majority of the tournament, junior Sam Johnston (74, 73, 75) finished in the top spot for the Eagles in a tie for fourth place at 222. Payne was close behind in a tie for ninth place at 224 after shooting 69, 76 and 79.

Johnston and Payne received All-American awards for their performances, Johnston’s third All-American award in his collegiate career and Payne’s first.

Freshman Zac Shaefer moved up in the team’s ranks due to improving shots of 79, 76 and 73. He completed his first collegiate season in a tie for 15th place within the 66-man field with a score of 228.

Senior Jared Consoli and freshman Asher Owen were one stroke behind Shaefer, tying each other for 17th place at 229 after Consoli hit 79, 76 and 74 and Owen shot 76, 77 and 76, respectively.

The Eagles will continue to play competitively for Oklahoma Christian University on Feb. 17 and 18 at the San Antonio Shoot-Out.