May 13, 2019 / Trailblazers’ Hall qualifies for NJCAA Division II men’s golf national tournament
FRENCH LICK, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore Zach Hall earned a bid to the 2019 NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship with his performance in the District I/Region 24 Championship tournament that concluded on Monday.
Hall fired a 12-over-par 82 in the final round of the 54-hole tourney at The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort.
Participants played 36 holes on Sunday and 18 holes on Monday. Hall shot a 77 in the first round. He carded a 78 in the second. He finished with a three-round total of 237 strokes, 27 over par.
“Zach played on our national championship team last year and he’s had tournament experience,” VU Golf Coach Dennis Chattin said. “I think that helped him in this year’s tournament. While he probably didn’t have his best round today, he was still able to hold it together. He had a six-shot lead over the next person, who would have qualified and it happened to be (VU freshman Matt Jordan). Zach kept up with the other guys and was able to qualify. It’s a great accomplishment.
“Conditions were windy. The pins were set in more difficult positions for the final round as well. He was able to grind it out.”
Last season, Hall finished 12th at the national tournament and earned All-American second team honors.
The top three individuals who were not on one of the top two placing teams on Monday qualify as individuals for the national tournament May 21-24 at Swan Lake Golf Resort in Plymouth, Indiana.
Hall finished Monday in a three-way tie for 10th place with Rend Lake’s Nelson Perlato and Illinois Central College’s Isaac Ingold.
Ingold and ICC’s Noah Benbow, who tied for third, earned the other individual berths.
The Trailblazers placed fourth in the team standings with a team total of 1,000 (332-336-332).
VU freshman Matt Jordan finished one place shy of earning a national bid. He had rounds of 82, 79 and 78 for a 239. He placed 13th.
“I was hoping Zach and Matt could both go because Matt was close as well,” Chattin said. “But Matt will be coming back next year.”
Sophomore Joe Allbright finished 20th with 258 strokes. He shot an 85 in the final round after opening with an 87 and 86.
Freshman Cole Parmer placed 24th. His scorecard included an 86, 93 and 87 for 266 strokes.
Parkland’s Kristian Kristensen won the individual title with a six-stroke victory over teammate Jalen Hodges. Kristensen shot 216 strokes.
Parkland won the team title with 881 strokes followed by Rend Lake (923), ICC (948), VU (1,000), Lincoln Trail (1,051) and Lewis and Clark (1,054). Parkland and Rend Lake earned team berths to the national tournament.
“We were somewhat hampered as a team because of (Jake English’s) injury,” Chattin said. “He was a strong player and would have helped us when it came to team play. Jake was our low average up to that point in time.”
###
Vincennes University Newsroom
Vincennes University
Trailblazer Athletics
MARCIA MARTINEZ, Sports Information Director & University
Life Reporter
812-888-4164 office, 314-599-1519 cell,
VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom