April 13, 2012

LUFKIN, Texas –– Eighty-seven golfers – 48 men and 39 women – are set to tee off on Monday (April 16) at the 2012 American Southwest Conference Golf Championships being played over two days for the first time at Crown Colony Country Club, the league office announced on Friday.

The event, in its 16th year, will feature nine men’s teams (top-seeded Texas-Tyler, followed by Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas Lutheran, Schreiner, Concordia Texas, LeTourneau, Hardin-Simmons, Texas-Dallas and Louisiana College); three men’s individuals (Mississippi College’s Ethan Doan and Griffin Burk, and McMurry’s Garrett Betts); eight women’s squads (top-seeded Mary Hardin-Baylor, followed by Texas-Tyler, Schreiner, Concordia Texas, Texas Lutheran, McMurry, Hardin-Simmons and Texas-Dallas); and one women’s individual (LeTourneau’s Candice Nishimura).

“We are pleased to welcome the America Southwest Conference Championships,” Crown Colony Head Golf Professional Ben Burns said. “We look forward to watching some of the best NCAA Division III golfers in the country compete on one of the best golf courses in the state of Texas.”

Shotgun start times are set for 8:30 a.m. each day. The men are scheduled for 54 holes (36 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday), while the women will play 36 holes (18 each day) at the par-72 course. Each championship team will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Golf Championships.

For the second straight year, live video coverage with audio will be available. Fans can access a live stream each day from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and also during the entire post-tournament awards ceremony on Tuesday (approximately 1:30 p.m.). The website link to access the stream can be found on TLU’s Stretch Internet Portal (http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/tlu.portal#).

On the men’s side, Texas Lutheran enters as the defending champion. The Bulldogs, guided by head coach H.C. Tran and assistant Jason York, put together rounds of 314, 307 and 302 for a 923 total and a 14-stroke victory over runner-up Texas-Tyler on par-71 Ram Rock Golf Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. UT Tyler’s Jacob Walsh, now a senior, won the individual crown after a two-hole playoff with TLU’s Ryan Kiel. They were each 11-over-par after 54 holes.

LeTourneau senior Spencer Rothluebber returns along with Walsh after earning first team all-conference honors last season. Both are two-time all-conference golfers, having made the second team in 2010. TLU sophomore Chance Cathey, Schreiner junior Andy Bell and UMHB sophomore Robby Schimmels are also back after putting together second team all-conference performances in 2011.

Mary Hardin-Baylor is the defending women’s champion. The Lady Cru, guided by eight-time ASC coach of the year Darla Kirby, carded a 329-324—653 for a five-stroke victory over runner-up McMurry on par-72 Apple Rock Golf Course at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Schreiner’s Gabby Rosales, now a junior, won the Mountaineers first individual title after recording an 11-over-par.

Rosales is the lone first team all-conference performer returning from 2011. Schreiner senior Sarah Stillwell, Mary Hardin-Baylor sophomore Kelly Gonyea and McMurry junior Courtney Norton are back after putting together second team all-conference scores. Stillwell was a first-team selection in 2010 as well as LeTourneau’s Nishimura.

NOTES: Crown Colony will also be the site of the 2013 ASC Golf Championships. .. . . Mary Hardin-Baylor has won the most combined conference titles with 12 (eight for the women, four for the men) and the most combined individual crowns with seven (five for the women, three for the men). . . . At the national level last season, the Texas Lutheran men went on to finish a conference-record third place, while the Mary Hardin-Baylor women finished 14th and the Texas-Tyler women were 16th. Now-graduated Leslie Lee of LeTourneau competed as an individual. . . . This year’s national events are set for May 15-18 for the men (Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.) and May 8-11 for the women (Zollner Golf Course in Angola, Ind.). . . . Crown Colony’s address is 900 Crown Colony Drive; Lufkin, Texas, 75901, while its website is: www.crown-colony.com. . . . Official short-sleeved tournament T-shirts will be available for $15, while souvenir program sheets will be $1 (both cash only). . . . .Spectator carts will be available for $20 per day (cash or credit only). . . . Official tournament scorer will be Texas Lutheran Sports Information Director Tim Clark. . . . Official tournament athletic trainer is Mississippi College Head Athletic Trainer Matt Verret. . . . Clark, Verret and ASC Assistant Commissioner Greg Weghorst will be on the call for the live video coverage. . . . Texas-Tyler Sports Information Student Assistant Jeff Williford will serve as press conference coordinator.

—To talk about/get updates throughout the ASC Golf Championships on the conference’s Twitter (@ASC_sports): #ASCgolf

 

2012 AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 16-17 (Practice Rounds: April 15)
Crown Colony Country Club (Par 72)
Lufkin, Texas
Men: 54 holes (36-18) / Women: 36 holes (18-18)

MEN'S FIELD

Teams (seed)

(1) Texas-Tyler

(2) Mary Hardin-Baylor

(3) Texas Lutheran

(4) Schreiner

(5) Concordia Texas

(6) LeTourneau

(7) Hardin-Simmons

(8) Texas-Dallas

(9) Louisiana College

Individuals:

Ethan Doans, Mississippi College

Garret Betts, McMurry

Griffin Burk, Mississippi College

 

WOMEN'S FIELD

Teams (seed)

(1) Mary Hardin-Baylor

(2) Texas-Tyler

(3) Schreiner

(4) Concordia Texas

(5) Texas Lutheran

(6) McMurry

(7) Hardin-Simmons

(8) Texas-Dallas

Individuals:

Candice Nishimura, LeTourneau

 

–ASC–