UCO Heads To MIAA Tourney

Central Oklahoma begins postseason play Monday when the Bronchos go to Independence, Mo. for the 2022 MIAA Men's Golf Championships.

The 54-hole tournament was scheduled to be played Monday-Wednesday, but was changed because of rain forecasts for Wednesday. Teams will now play 36 holes Monday at the 6,752-yard, par-72 WinterStone Golf Course before finishing with an 18-hole round Tuesday.

Joining UCO will be Central Missouri, Rogers State, Northeastern State, Washburn, Missouri Western, Fort Hays State, Newman and Lincoln. The Mules are the defending champions, while the Bronchos finished fourth last year.

The team champion earns the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Region Championships, which are set for May 5-7 in Noblesville, Ind.

"WinterStone is a pretty demanding golf course, so we're going to have to stay disciplined over the course of the three days," head coach Derrick Thompson said. "I really like the way our guys are playing. We've been playing our best golf of the year over the last month and that's just what you want to see heading into championship season."

The Bronchos have been in the top 10 in all 10 tournaments during the 2021-22 season, with four top-four finishes.

Making up UCO's five-man contingent will be juniors Evan Griffith and Kyle Hickey, sophomore Caleb Kimmel and freshmen Bennett Baldwin and Liam Coughlin.

Griffith leads the team with a 73.39 scoring average and six top-25 placings in 10 tournaments, including three in the top 10. He tied for fourth in UCO's last outing at The Mule Classic.

Kimmel carries a 74.67 average with top-25 finishes in five of 10 events, while Hickey has been in the top-25 in four of eight events and has a 74.67 average.

Baldwin has a 74.8 average in nine tournaments with three top-25 showings and was 16th at The Mule. Coughlin has been in the top-25 twice in seven tourneys and has a 76.11 scoring standard.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Evan Griffith: Freshman

Caleb Kimmel: Freshman

Bennett Baldwin: 6' 1"; Freshman

Liam Coughlin: Freshman

Kyle Hickey: 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Evan Griffith
: Freshman

Caleb Kimmel
: Freshman

Bennett Baldwin
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Liam Coughlin
: Freshman

Kyle Hickey
: 5' 9"; Junior