Kline wins individual title, leads UCO men to second

LAWRENCE, Kan. (April 22) – Eric Kline birdied the first playoff hole to capture the individual championship and lead Central Oklahoma to a runner-up finish in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Men’s Golf Championships here Wednesday.

Kline shot a final-round 74 to end up tied with Central Missouri’s Travis Mayes with a three-round total of 221 at the 6,829-yard, par-72 Alvamar Golf Club (Member’s Course) before winning the title with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole.

The Bronchos closed with a 309 to finish with a 924 total, 27 shots behind Central Missouri.  Lindenwood was third in the 11-team field at 943, followed by Washburn (944) and Northeastern State (957).

Logan Gray also had a 74 for UCO, while Russ Purser shot 78, Wesley Jackson 83 and Alexander Hughes 84.

Gray ended up tied for fourth in the medalist standings at 225.

Kline had two birdies and two bogeys in making the turn at even-par 36, but dropped to three-over with a double bogey on No. 13 and a bogey on No. 15.  He birdied the par-5 17th hole to get back to two-over in finishing with the 74 to get in the playoff.

Gray had a steady day with 16 pars and two bogeys in shooting 37-37. 

Northeastern State finished in third place.  The RiverHawks carded their lowest round of the tournament of 309 in Wednesday’s final round. NSU jumped two teams to finish at 93-over-par 957 (333-315-309).

Northeastern State finished with 42 points in the final MIAA standings to land in third place. UCM brought home the regular-season championship with a score of 53 points, while UCO was second with 51 points.

Sophomore Marc Johnson shot 78 in all three rounds of the MIAA Championship to land in solo 13th at 18-over 234. Senior Zach Tucker (88-74-75) and junior Brent Williamson (83-75-79) tied for 17th at 21-over 237. Sophomore Tate Williamson tied for 44th at 33-over 249 (84-88-77), while senior Brad Hager tied for 53rd at 55-over 271 (91-95-85).

Johnson and Tucker were both voted onto the 2015 All-MIAA Team by the league’s coaches.

Northeastern State will now wait for the NCAA to announce the participants of the 2015 Central/Midwest Super Regional, which will be held May 4-6 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Illinois. The official announcement will be made on ncaa.com at 3 p.m. April 24.

2015 MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS – Final Results
April 22, 2015 at Lawrence, Kan.

(par-72, 6,829-yard Alvamar Golf Club Members Course)

Team Standings

1.        #14 Central Missouri                        310-290-297=897 (+33)

2.        #16 Central Oklahoma                     315-300-309=924 (+60)

3.        Lindenwood                                      323-312-308=943 (+79)

4.        Washburn                                          322-308-314=944 (+80)

5.       (RV) Northeastern State               333-315-309=957 (+93)

6.        Southwest Baptist                             328-310-322=960 (+96)

7.        Missouri Western State                    335-316-310=961 (+97)

8.        Lincoln                                               325-313-326=964 (+100)

9.        (RV) Missouri Southern State          344-310-311=965 (+101)

10.     Nebraska-Kearney                            327-324-322=973 (+109)

11.     Fort Hays State                                  348-314-323=985 (+121)

Rankings reflect the latest Golf Coaches Association of America Division II Top 25 Poll

RV = receiving votes in the poll

Top-5 Standings

T1.     Eric Kline (Central Oklahoma)*                     75-72-74=221 (+5)

           Travis Mays (Central Missouri)                    78-71-72=221 (+5)

3.        Cy Moritz (Central Missouri)                         74-73-76=223 (+7)

4.        Logan Gray (Central Oklahoma)                   78-73-74=225 (+9)

5.        Ryan Buerk (Missouri Southern State)        79-72-76=227 (+11)

* = Won in a playoff

NSU Individuals

13.     Marc Johnson                                                  78-78-78=234 (+18)

T17.   Zach Tucker                                                    88-74-75=237 (+21)

           Brent Williamson                                            83-75-79=237 (+21)

T44.   Tate Williamson                                              84-88-77=249 (+33)

T53.   Brad Hager                                                      91-95-85=271 (+55)

2015 Men’s Golf All-MIAA Team
Travis Mays, Central Missouri (46.5) Golfer of the Year

Cy Moritz, Central Missouri (42.5)

Sam Migdal, Central Missouri (39.5)

Eric Kline, Central Oklahoma 34

Logan Gray, Central Oklahoma (33.5)

Russ Purser, Central Oklahoma (29.5)

Teddy Jones, Central Missouri (29)

Corbin Adams, Lindenwood (21.5)

Ryan Buerk, Missouri Southern (21.333)

Trey Herman, Fort Hays State (18.5)

Wesley Jackson, Central Oklahoma (17) Freshman of the Year

Alex Springer, Central Missouri (17)

Marc Johnson, Northeastern State (Voted on by coaches)

Ron McHenry, Washburn (Voted on by coaches)

Zack Tucker, Northeastern State (Voted on by coaches)

MIAA Coach of the Year: Tim Poe, Central Missouri