ccess The 2002 golf team had limited success on the course, but achieved much as individuals. Coach Nicky Boyd sa id the golf team was more about opportunities. "Golf being a non-scholarship sport [at Harding] makes it hard to compete," Boyd said. "We look at it as a chance to provide students on campus a chance for high quality competition." The Bisons fini shed 13th out of 14 teams at the conference meet in Hot Springs, Ark., April 14-15. Senior Dustin Taylor played three of his best four rounds this year shooting 78, 78 and 79. Taylor also earned his highest finish of the year, tying for 40" place. "We had our ups and d owns," freshman Matt Blansett said. "l w ish we could have ended on a higher note than we did, but it seemed like everyone put forth the highest effort that they could ." Senior Jared Smith was the most consistent of the Bisons. Smith, who was the top finisher for Harding in six of the eight meets, shot a Bison season low of 75 at the University of Centra l Arkansas Invitationa l Sept. 24-25. Smith also led the team at UCA, placing 30'h. Boyd sa id the team will miss Smith. "Jared Smith was one of the best players "T he night before a tourna– ment, we just hang out as a team. I like to visualize certain shots and situa– tions that I might be in during the match. And then I just go out and do it." •• 240 athletics we had ," Boyd said. "He was a team leader for four years and he will be hard to replace." Senior basketball standout Aaron Farley showed his golfing skills thi s season. Farley participated in three events and shot his season-low of 79 at the Freed-Hardeman In– vitational April 8-10. "Farley got off to a late start for us due to basketball," Boyd said. "We're hoping he'll be a leader and have a bigger role next season ." In the classroom, grad u a te student Stephen Finley earned All-Gulf South Con– ference Acad emic Team honors. Finley had a 3.91 GPA while working on his Master of Business Administration . The Gulf South Conference provided dif– fi cult competition for non-scholarship pro-· grams. Two teams from the GSC finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Division II Finals . North Alabama took fourth place and West Florida fini shed ninth. Three of the top 10 individual fina lists came from the GSc. "Competition is great in our league, we go up against many schools that are very good," sophomore Doug Sanders said. - Cody Usher " (Photo by Russ Phillips) Sophomore Bobby Bates swings his putter to finish the hole during a practice at the Searcy Country Club. The team practiced three times a week when they were not playing in a tournament. (Photo by Russ Phillips) UCA Invitational Team: 12 of 14 St. Gregory's Invitational Team: 16 of 18 Drury Classic Team: 20 of 20 Doyle Wallace Classic Team: 10 of 11 Arkansas Tech Collegiate Classic Team: 10 of 11 UC Invitational Team: 10 of 11 (Photo by Russ Phillips)
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