Hughes, Troutman lead UCO men to MIAA crown

SPRING HILL, Kan. (April 26) – A dramatic late rally resulted in a clean sweep for Central Oklahoma at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Men’s Golf Championships here Wednesday.

The Bronchos were a collective 8-under-par on the final four holes in surging to their second straight league crown, while Alexander Hughes captured the individual title on the strength of a final-hole eagle.

UCO had a final-round 290 to end with an 884 total at the 7,081-yard, par-72 Sycamore Ridge Golf Course in clipping Washburn by three shots.  Lindenwood was third in the 11-team field at 890.

The Bronchos earned the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships, which starts with the Central-Midwest Regional May 7-9 in Axtell, Neb.

Hughes fired a final-nine 33 to finish with a 2-under-par 70 in claiming a two-stroke win in the medalist race, finishing at one-under 215 for the 54-hole tournament.

Cody Troutman also closed with a 70 for the Bronchos, while Wesley Jackson and Nick Pierce both shot 75 and Eli Armstrong had a 79.

Hughes shot a front-nine 37 and was 2-over after bogeying No. 10 before starting his comeback.  The junior standout birdied Nos. 11 and 15 to get back to even-par and eagled the 525-yard, par-5 18th hole to cap his amazing back-nine 33.

Troutman was 2-under through six holes before double bogeying the par-5 seventh hole en route to a front-nine 36.  He was still even-par for the round until making birdies at Nos. 16 and 18 to polish off the 70 that lifted him to a third-place tie in the individual standings at 218.

Jackson shot 40 on the front nine before bouncing back with a 1-under 35 as he birdied two of the last four holes.  Pierce had a similar back-nine rally, shooting even-par 36 after going out in 39.
UCO Scores
Alexander Hughes 70=215
Cody Troutman 70=218
Wesley Jackson 75=223
Eli Armstrong 79=232
Nick Pierce 75=233