The 16th fairway at Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course.

Augusta State Wins NCAA Central Regional By Nine Shots Over Oklahoma State

May 21, 2005

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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Augusta State used the second-lowest single-round score of the tournament, a one-over par 281 in Saturday’s third and final round, to surpass top-ranked Oklahoma State and win the NCAA Central Regional at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course (par 70/7,011 yards). The Jaguars finished with a nine-over par 849 (284-284-281) total to defeat the Cowboys by nine shots and capture the program’s first-ever regional championship. Kalle Edberg of Augusta State carded a 54-hole total of five-under par 205 (70-68-67) to claim medalist honors by one stroke over Oklahoma State’s Pablo Martin.

OSU began the day three shots ahead of Augusta State, but fired a 13-over par 293 to finish at 18-over par 858 (282-283-293). Texas A&M registered a 23-over total of 863 (290-291-282) to place third out of the 27-team field. Joining those three squads at the NCAA Championship from the Central Regional will be: Tulsa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, SMU, Texas and Purdue.

Purdue earned the final NCAA Championship qualifying berth by defeating Wichita State in a one-hole playoff after both squads finished tied at 875 (+15) following 54 holes of play. The Boilermakers topped the Shockers, 18 (+2) to 19 (+3) after Bobby Bennett and Pariya Junhasavasdikul each sank par putts on the playoff hole for Purdue.

Korey Mahoney of Eastern Michigan and Judd Easterling of Wichita State also will make the trip to the national tournament as they were the top two individuals not on a qualifying team. Mahoney carded a two-under par 208 to place fourth, while Easterling shot a one-under 209 to finish tied for fifth overall. The NCAA Championship will take place June 1-4 at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md., hosted by Loyola College.

Arkansas registered the low round of the tournament with a two-under par 278 on Saturday. The Razorbacks were the only team to shoot a round at or under par for the regional.

For the second straight day, a hole-in-one was fired at the Warren Golf Course. SMU’s Brandon DeStafano carded the ace on the par-three fourth hole with a nine-iron from 136 yards out. On Friday, Kentucky’s Mark Blakefield tallied a ace on the par-three 14th hole, using a four-iron from 213 yards.