The Lee University women’s golf team placed 10th and ended its season after 54-holes of the NCAA DII National Championship that was played on the Orange County National course. The Lady Flames posted a 7-over 295 on Thursday and completed the event with an 882 team total. The final tally was six strokes (876) off the pace set by University of Indianapolis and St. Mary’s (TX) which earned the final two spots in the eight-team field that advanced to match play on Friday.
Flagler College (Fla.) claimed the 54-hole championship with a 13-under 851 total. West Texas A&M (855), Dallas Baptist (864), Lynn (Fla.) 865 and Findlay (Ohio) 867 rounded out the top five teams. Findlay’s Gabby Woods captured the medalist honors with a 9-under par 207.
Junior Banthita “Pearl” Phoncharatkun posted par or better each day in leading the Lady Flames. She had scores of 71, 72, 72 – 215. Sophomore Hannah Nall began the tournament with a 2-under 70, slipped to a 3-over 75 on Wednesday then came back with an even par 72 on Thursday for her 217 total. It was not the best tournament for graduate student Supuschaya “Yui” Srichantamit. Yui had scores of 74, 73, 74 – 221. Freshman Olivia Ireland carded a 74, 78, 77 – 229 tally while senior Emily Ritchie had a 78, 78, 77 – 233.
On the men's side, red-shirt junior Trey Melvin was the most consistent player all three days in the NCAA DII National Championship that was played on the Orange County National Golf Center course. Melvin had two 1-over par rounds of 72 and one even-par 71 for his 215 total in helping the Flames to an 11th place finish in the 20-team field.
West Florida tallied an 838 and outscored Oklahoma Christian (839) by 10 strokes in the final round to capture the 54-hole title. Central Oklahoma and Coker University deadlocked for third place (846) and North Georgia battled to round out the top five (851). Lee’s season ended with the 882 three-day total. Wyatt Provence of West Texas A&M claimed the medalist honors with a 201 total.
Melvin, who finished 33rd in the individual scoring, was followed by senior Oliver Lewis-Perkins. Oliver had a 74 during the opening round followed by a 72 and finished with an even-par 71 (217). Sophomore Wyatt Brackett posted the best round of any playing in the tournament when he came in with a 1-under 70 on Thursday. He showed solid improvement after opening with a 5-over 76 on Tuesday, an even-par 71 on Wednesday and his 1-under on Thursday for the 217 finish. Sophomore George Cordall had rounds of 72, 71, 76 – 219 while red-shirt sophomore Bennett McNabb shot 71 on Tuesday, slipped to 75 on Wednesday and tallied 74 that counted on Thursday for his 220 finish.