UCO Finishes Fifth In MIAA Tourney

BOLIVAR, Mo. (April 19) – Ross Taylor led Central Oklahoma to a fifth-place finish in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Golf Championships that wrapped up Wednesday afternoon.

Taylor shot a final-round 74 to placing seventh in the individual standings with a 221 total, while the Bronchos closed with a 302 in finishing the three-day, 54-hole tournament at 898.

Missouri Southern claimed the team title at the 6,938-yard, par-72 Silo Ridge Golf Club with an 884 total, followed by Washburn and Northeastern State (886), Central Missouri (897) and UCO.

The Lions earned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament, though the Bronchos are expected to earn an at-large bid when the selections are announced Friday. The Central/Midwest Regional is set for May 11-13 in Winona, Minn.

Click here for tournament results.

Taylor had the low round of the day for UCO with his 74. Bennett Baldwin and Kyle Hickey both carded 75s, while Evan Griffith shot 78 and Caleb Kimmel 80.

"We didn't play very well today," head coach Derrick Thompson said. "It was a disappointing way to end the tournament, but hopefully we get another chance to show what we can do in the regional in a few weeks."

Taylor got off to a great start in the final round with a birdie on the par-4 first hole, but then bogeyed the next two to drop to one over. He got back to even with a birdie on the par-5 sixth and closed the front nine with three straight pars for an outgoing 36.

The junior opened the back nine with seven consecutive pars before closing with back-to-back bogeys for a back-nine 38 and the 74.

Hickey and Baldwin also finished in the top 20 for the Bronchos, with Hickey tying for 18th at 226 and Baldwin tying for 20th at 227.

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Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin: Sophomore

Evan Griffith: Junior

Kyle Hickey: Senior

Caleb Kimmel: Junior

Ross Taylor: Junior

Players Mentioned

Bennett Baldwin
: Sophomore

Evan Griffith
: Junior

Kyle Hickey
: Senior

Caleb Kimmel
: Junior

Ross Taylor
: Junior