Regional Champs!

5/6/2015 7:27:00 PM

Russ Purser

Tournament Results

LEMONT, Ill. (May 6) – A stirring final-day rally propelled Central Oklahoma to a stunning victory in the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional here Wednesday.

The Bronchos were 12 shots out of the lead in third place entering the last round, but UCO closed with a 292 at the 6,936-yard, par-72 Cog Hill Dubsdread Course behind under-par rounds from individual champion Eric Kline and Russ Purser in storming to the title.

Coach Pat Bates' crew finished the three-day, 54-hole tournament with an 885 total, 10 shots ahead of second-round leader Central Missouri. Missouri-St. Louis was third in the 20-team event at 896, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma (898) and Southeastern Oklahoma (904), with the top three teams advancing to the Championship Finals May 18-22 in Conover, N.C.

Purser made six birdies in a two-under-par 70 to lead the way, while Kline overcame a slow start for a 71. Eli Armstrong came through with a clutch 72, Wesley Jackson added a 79 and Logan Gray an 84 as UCO captured its sixth tournament crown of the year.

"We got off to a good start and that really got us going," Bates said. "The guys played really well and it was excited to come back and win the tournament the way we did."

Kline ended up claiming medalist honors with a two-under 214 total, edging Garrison Myles of Malone by one stroke.

The junior standout got off to a rough start with bogeys on three of the first four holes, but an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole jump-started his round. Kline went on to make the turn at one-over 37 and then made four back-nine birdies in coming back with a 34 for the 71 that gave him the individual title.

Purser ignited UCO's comeback with a sizzling four-under 32 on the front nine, making five birdies during an eight-hole stretch. He gave two shots back on the closing nine, but his 70 was still the low round of the day a led to a seventh-place finish with a 219 total.

Armstrong rebounded from a second-day 79 with his best round of the year, making three birdies in shooting consecutive even-par 36s.

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