Ji_oping to run awa w· p10.nsbip the golf~ itb a conference cbamtheu skills, as th eam practiced daily ey were rid· on mg to victory. RIDING TO VICTORY C oach Phil Watkins and his Bison golf team entered the 1986 season confident of a tight race with Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference rivals Henderson University and the University of Central Arkansas. As the season progressed through its six scheduled rounds of AIC play, it became apparent that Watkins' expectations were right on target. Led by All-AIC seniors John Beavers and Kevin Wise, the Bisons earned second-- place finishes in both the .conference and District 17 races. Beavers ended the season as the AIC's fourth-ranked golfer with an average score of 78.8 through six rounds. Immediately behind Beavers in the fifth spot on the conference ladder was Wise, who carded an average of 79 strokes per round. With seven seniors listed on the 10-man squad, Harding found its senior leadership and poise enough to earn 41 team points and finish just behind AIC and District 17 champion Henderson State's 45 team points. Didier Villard, another of the Bisons' outstanding senior leaders, averaged 80.8 strokes per round to rank 12th individually in the tough AIC. The fatal blow to the Bisons' hopes of challenging for the AIC title was struck on the second hole of round five, where Harding ended up nine over par. "You hate to finish second, but Henderson State played so well that they deserved to win it;' Watkins said, at the conclusion of the season. "Of course, we were shooting for the c;hampionship, but second is a pretty strong finish in our conference and district, because the ~uality of the teams.' 9 Looking for trouble. Squatting on the green, Michael Saegart, a junior from Siloam Springs, AR, lines up a putt to practice for the upcoming AIC meet. Besides lining up the putt while squatting, golfers also judged the distance to the hole. - photo by jerry Traughber. ''We all wanted to win the conference championship, but I am happy with our second place finish . We worked hard for it all season so we have nothing to complain about ." - Bob Pittenger ~-=-~=*--=-=-=-~ S:::::::::::::-:·:-:1 :-;::::·.-.·""'.».:".{:: ~=:=:::::::-:=:·:·:·: l\\\l[\!l!l\\:11::1::: l\l\:::::;::::11::::: ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ·.·.·.· .·.·.· .·.·. Golf 59
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