GOLF Harding Fights Off Stiff Competition For AIC Title For the third consecutive year, the Harding golf team reigned as champions of the Arkan~ sas Interco ll egiate Conference. The 1982 season was sweet indeed for the Bison golfers as they overcame a close finish for the title. Early in the season, Coach Phil Watkins was faced with a major dilemma: Who wou ld be the man to replace graduated Brent Tay lor, an AII~American in 1981? A lthough Watkins returned two AII-AIC linksters in Hubie Smith and David Padgett, there was still a question as to who would play behind them? The team was young, and the confe rence was stronger. The Bisons took an early lead in the confe rence race when Smith fired a 72 to earn meda li st honors and pace Hard ing to the top spot. The Bisons shot a team total of 307 for the win. Round two saw the Bisons slip down in the stand ings as they shot a 322 for seventh place. That was to be their worst fini sh of the six rounds in conference play. Smith plum~ meted to a round of 90. The greatest nemesis throughout the conference race, Ouachita Baptist University, took the lead. A break in the AIC battle came next as the Bisons hosted the first ever Harding Invita~ tional Golf Tournament at the Searcy Country Club. On the first hole of a sudden death p layoff, the Harding golfers overcame the University of Central Arkansas for the victory. Sophomore Kyle Chand ler sunk a 21·foot putt birdie to catapu l t the win. "We really needed this one," Watkins said 134)Golf after the tournament. "This is the first team playoff we've been involved in, and it's great to see the men respond to the pressure. It was a great win ." Round three saw the Bison golfers travel to little Rock Country Club, and it was this match that cou ld have made the difference for the Bisons. Padgett missed medalist honors by one shot with his 79 and Smith shot an 80 to back the effort. On a day when it seemed everyone had a bad round, the Bisons moved on top with a 326. The fou rth round forced the race a bit tighter as Ouachita was victorious and Harding finished in a tie for second with UCA. Padgett and Smith show a 69 and 70, respectively, behind UCA's Jay Fox, who had a 67. OBU held a one point lead, and the do-or~die situation came into effect for both teams . The final two rounds took place on Apri l 31 and May 1 at Hot Springs, and t he tension continued as Padgett blew to an 86 and Smith fell to a 79. John Hendricks led the Bisons with a 76. The team effort produced a fifth p l ace, whi le Ouachita cruised to the top spot. The championship looked dim for the Black and Gold linksters. But Saturday was a different story. Padgett regained his shooting eye and covered the Cortez Country Club course in 76 with Smith coming in with a 77. Chandler repeated his previous day's performance of 80 and Hendricks had an 81 . Collin LaFollette finished the top five with an 88. This earned the Bisons a tie for second with UCA, and coup led with Ouachita's seventh - Courtesy 01 Publicity Office place finish, the Bisons were once again AIC champions. "After Friday's play we really thought we were out of it," Watkins said. "But the boys came back with a fine round to finish on a high note. Ouachita played a bad round and everythi.'lg really fell in place for US." The final team totals gave the Bisons 41 points, while Ouachita tied with final round winner Southern Arkansas University for second with 40.5 points. Smith earned AII-AIC honors once again by finishing sixth individually with a 76.2 stroke average . Padgett, who was named as the team's most va luable player and Inspiration Award winner, narrowly missed the honor by less than a half-stroke. "«- 1.1982 Golf Team. Front row: Smith, Padgeu, Hendricks, Claussen. Back row: Watkins-coach, Chandler, Lafol/elte, Hambrice. 2. David Padgett pitches the ball out of the sandtrap.3. Mike Claussen's putt falls ;ust short of rhe hole. 4. Hubie Smith shows perfect form as he drives the ball. 1982 Ale GOLF RESULTS Harding University 41 Ouachita Baptist University 40.5 Southern Arkansas Univeristy 40.5 University of Central Arkansas 37.5 University of Arkansas-Monticello 37 Arkansas Tech University 28 Hendrix College 22 Arkansas College 17.5 Henderson State University 6 _ Courtesy 01 Publicity Office
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