Bronchos Ready For Regional

Central Oklahoma treks to Winona, Minn. this week to participate in the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Men's Golf Regional Tournament.

The Bronchos are one of 20 teams in the field for the three-day, 54-hole tournament that runs Thursday-Saturday at the 6,778-yard, par-71 The Bridges Golf Club.

It marks UCO's second straight regional appearance after a three-year drought and second-year head coach Derrick Thompson is excited about his team's changes of advancing to the national tournament.

"We've made a lot of improvement throughout the year and have played pretty well the last month," Thompson said. "It's going to be an extremely tough tournament, but I think we've got a great shot at moving on if our guys play like they're capable of."

The top six teams and first two individuals not a member of a qualifying team advance to the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships, which are set for May 22-26 in Warren, Ohio.

UCO's five-man contingent of juniors Evan Griffith, Kyle Hickey, Caleb Kimmel and Ross Taylor and sophomore Bennett Baldwin begin first-round play at 12:40 p.m. Thursday.

Kimmel tops the team with a 73.9 scoring average, which includes six rounds of par or better. He's been in the top 20 in seven of UCO's 11 tournaments this year, with four of his five top-10 finishes having come this spring.

Baldwin is right behind with a 74.0 scoring standard and seven par or better rounds. He's had six top 20 showings in 11 tournaments and won his first collegiate title at the Broncho Invitational in late March.

Griffith owns a 74.23 average in 11 tournaments, having shot par or better seven times. He's placed in the top 20 in six events, capped by a win at Oak Tree Invitational in mid-March.

Taylor has a 74.75 average in 10 tournaments and has five top-20 finishes, with two of those in the top 10. Hickey has played in six events and is at 76.11 with three top 20s.

The Bronchos have finished in the top six in nine of their 11 events this year, including a string of five straight heading into the regional.

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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