GOLF: Senior leaders motivate higher performance level The 1997 Bison golf team completed a good season , missing qual ifying for the national tournament by only four strokes. The Bisons played well in the N~tional Association of I ntercollegiate Athletics southwest regional tournament , led by the strong play of Brad Wood and Brad Williams.Wood fired three straight rounds of70 in the tour- ' nament fora six under par score. "Brad was in a zone, " Coach Nicky Boyd said. "He played great golf over the two days of the NAIA regional tournament. He was very consistent and gave OUf team a great chance of winning. He tied fo r medalist, losing to eventual champion Sean Martin of Northwood, Texas, on the second playoff hole." Williams and Wood led the team with their skill and their strong work e thic and leadership. "Williams and Wood were the real leaders of the golf team for four yea rs. They played great golf and kept a strong unity among the team," Boyd said. The team playe d well throughout the season, especially during the tournament. "Our season was successful. I felt really good about it," Boyd said. "We finished very strong and had a great ending to our season . We were beaten by four strokes by the Unive rs ity of Mobi le, the eventual NAJA nationa l champions. "Our team worked hard, and it showed during the regionals. We eleva ted our play and played our best golfthen. It was disappOinting to lose by only four strokes, but I was proud of the way they played. " Williams and Wood received Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference All-Conference honors and were consistent tournament leaders during their four years together. Along with Stephen Bell , Bill Brandsma and Dave Pera, they set a team record with a score of 867 (three over par) fo r 54 holes. In the final round, they carded a 283 (five under par) as a team. "If we could have beat Mobile , I think we had a good chance of winning the NAJA championship," Wood said. Will iams and Wood developed a friendship and a strong leadership roleon the golf team. "Playing with Brad Willia"ms for four years was great," Wood said. "He is more consistent than I am but, when I am at my best, I can play with him," Wood said . "Brad played grea t this past season. The whole year, I was up and down. In the tournament I started hitting well , and I was really surprised with my performance. We both played well , and I had a lot of fun playing with Brad. " Sophomore Bill Brandsma felt Wood and Williams were both good role models. "They set a great example for us as Christian leaders and as Christian athletes," Brandsma said. - Heath Dawson Golf Team. First Row: Stephen Bell, Andrew Baker. David Pero a nd Darren Parks. Second Row: Coach Nicky Boyd, Brad Wood, Brian Layton, Bmd lYlilliams Clnd Bill Brcmdsma . PbOlO ~YJe.ff MontgomelY. a& 202 Sports " I wal prou~ of the way theyplaye~ in the regional tournament." " Coach Nicky goy. Lone Star Tournament Central Oklahoma 579 A&MCommerce 583 East Central 585 Cameron 593 Abilene 595 Harding 607 Southeastern Oklahoma WestTexasA&M 616 Northeastern 623 Ouachita 659 " We ha~ jUlt al goo~ of a Ihot # anyone elle . " B ra~ woo~
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