RESULTS || HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Henderson State held off Arkansas Tech to capture the 2017 Great American Conference Men’s Golf Championship title, its fourth-straight conference crown, on Tuesday from the Arlington Course at Hot Springs Country Club. Reddie freshman Nick Shapiro won the individual medalist honor.
After a 7-under 65 on Monday, Shapiro followed up with 2-under 70 to post a three-round score of 7-under 209, the third-lowest score in GAC Championship history. He finished the tournament in style as he eagled the 18th hole to win the title by two shots. He became the second freshman to win at the GAC Championships, joining Arkansas Tech’s Brian Belz, who took first in 2013.
A pair of Shapiro’s teammates finished inside the top five to earn All-Tournament honors. Price Murphree recorded his second sub-par round of the tournament, a 1-under 71 to place fourth. Drew Greenwood became a two-time All-Tournament performer as his three-day score of even-par 216 left him tied for fifth.
Four the fourth time in six years, Arkansas Tech finished as the runner up. The Wonder Boys posted the days best round, a 3-under 285. Austin Smith finished in second with a 5-under 211 total and Luke Cornett took third as the duo earned All-Tournament honors. Putter Srinoon tied for seventh and Jonathan Echberg shared ninth.
Southwestern Oklahoma State finished alone in third. Kason Cook shot even par in the final round to tie for seventh. GAC Player of the Year Stefan Idstam tied for 15th.
Harding took fourth as Alex Williamson, Mason Banger and Juan Luis Sanchez Perez all shared 15th. Southern Arkansas finished in fifth. SAU’S Kyle Gordo joined the five-way logjam in 15th position. Southern Nazarene held its position in sixth place led by Rhett Bechtel, who tied for 11th.
Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Hayden Foster captured the final All-Tournament position as he tied for fifth with an even-par three-day score. The Savage Storm took eighth, while Northwestern Oklahoma State took ninth.
Oklahoma State’s golfers competed as individuals. Hudson Hoover tied for ninth and Kyle Perdew shared 11th to lead the Bison.
The Reddies earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional. Arkansas Tech, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Harding all appeared inside the top 10 of the most recent NCAA Central Region rankings. The NCAA announces the tournament participants on Friday.