TUDE T LIFE I I TERNATIO AL I OCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMIC I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETI I ORG IZATIO ON COURSE FOR SUCCESS The Bison men's golf team broke school records despite a tough finish. T he 2017-18 Harding men's golf team gave the school a season to remember, as they finished sixth in the Central Region ranking . The standing was the highest in Harding's history. Due to their high rank, the team was given the chance to compete in its econd consecutive NCAADivision II Central/Midwest Regional Tournament. Junior Cooper Dunn attributed a majority of the team's success to the confidence with which they played. "I think confidence is pretty important in golf," Dunn said. "We got on a hot streak. We started off pretty well in the beginning of the semester, and confidence was building [with] every tournament we played." The NCAARegional tournament was held at the Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio, and was a 20-team competition. The top five teams from the event advanced to the NCAAChampionship. The ream started the tournament playing well, and at the start of che final day they were tied for third. Their previous success, however, did not carry· over into the final round. The team began the day shooting 19 bogeys and five birdies on the front-nine, which dropped them below the top five. A lightning delay in the middle of their round allowed the team time to collect their thoughts and refocus. Men's and Women's Golf Coach Dustin Howell and the rest of the team believed their dream of reaching the national tournament for the first time in school history was still within reach. "If you go back and look at the scoreboard, it's like we cut an artery," Howell said. "We suddenly kept landing birdie after birdie. We all thought 'this is going to happen,' but we fell short on the last hole. You never take over 850 shots and blame it on one guy because they all count; they all count together." The late surge was not enough, and the men's golf team finished 13over, placing them seventh in the tournament. The team finished three strokes behind Southwestern Oklahoma University and Arkansas Tech University, who tied for fourth. Junior Gregor Macintosh was proud of the season as a whole but disappointed with how it ended. "I know it was a long season," Macintosh said. "It kind of all came together on that last day, and it just didn't click. It was a great season, but it was bitter to see it end like that, despite how close we were." Although the team did not make it to the national championship they still finished higher than any other team in Harding's history. They also set a school record by finishing the season ranked 59th nationally in NCAA Division II play. D unn, along with the rest of the ream, wanted to finish the season on a stronger note but was still proud of what the team accomplished and the records they set for Harding. "I love [breaking school records]," Dunn said. "Even though it's a smaller sport that not as many people care about, it's still nice. It feels good. It makes you feel prideful, not in an arrogant way, but it feel good to seethe success when you know you have been putting in the effort and work." story by Jacob Broyles Junior Gregor Macintosh lines up far a putt at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio, far the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional Tournament. Macintosh tied for 24th at the tournament on May 9, 2018. I photo courtesy of Dustin Howell Alumnus Alan Anderson drives the ball down the green on May 8, 2018, at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio, for the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional Tournament. The Bisons were one of 40 teams in the NCAA Division II to be a part ofthe GolfCoaches Association ofAmerica All-Academic Teams. I photo courtesy of Dustin Howell Men and Women's GolfCoach Dustin Howellgives sophomore Summer Williamson advice on Aug. 27, 2018, at the Searcy Country Club. Howell coached the Bisonsfar 11 seasons and the LadyBisonsfor four seasons. I photo courtesy of Dustin Howell JuniorCooper Dunn hits a shot out ofthe bunker on May 7, 2018, at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio, for the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional Tournament. Dunn tiedfor 51st in the tournament. I photo courtesy of Dustin Howell 234
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