Complete Results
IUP took the lead early in the third round of the NCAA East Region
tournament but Fairmont State erased a two-shot deficit over the final three
holes to capture the region title and a first ever berth to the national
tournament.
IUP finished with a
three-day total score of 899, three behind the victorious Falcons, as the
Crimson Hawks were denied their second region title and sixth trip to
nationals in 15 seasons under head coach Fred Joseph.
IUP won the region crown in
2005 and this season marks the fifth time the team were runners-up.
The Crimson Hawks were making their 11th consecutive appearance in the
region tournament.
A pair of IUP freshmen, Nic
Milito and Gavin Smith, finished in a tie for third with 10-over par scores
of 223 on the par 71 Speidel Jones Course in Wheeling, W.Va. Milito
and Smith were two shots behind Will Gautreau of Fairmont State and Michael
Todd of Charleston.
Todd will join Fairmont
State in representing the East Region at nationals as the top individual not
on the winning team. The national tournament takes place May 22-25 in
Allendale, Mich.
IUP's Cory Stelick tied for
11th at 226 and Thomas Facciani was a shot behind Stelick at 227, good for a
tie for 13th. Ryan Kennedy was the fifth IUP player and he finished in
a tie for 36th at 240.
Charleston led after the
third round but faltered on Wednesday to finish seven shots behind IUP at
906. Rounding out the eight team field were Ohio Valley (913),
Millersville (915), Concord (922), Clarion (928) and West Liberty State
(931).
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