Day Four Recap
-- Story provided by Trine University Athletics --
WHEELING, W. Va. -- The NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship came to a close on Friday, May 14, and senior Carlos Coeto (Bernardo, Mexico) finished the event in a tie for 47th in the field of nearly 100.
The Thunder just missed out on the cut as a team after Wednesday's second round. They would finish in 20th with the top 18 teams advancing.
"I am very proud of our team and the way they performed this season," said head coach Noah Warren, "Competing at the NCAA Division III Championship is something that has never happened for our program and while our ultimate goal was to make the cut, missing by just seven strokes and finishing 20th is nothing to hang our heads at."
Coeto made the cut as an individual following an exciting final hole of the second round. Needing a par to secure his spot for the final two days of the championship, Coeto started the hole with a wayward shot off the tee. After laying up and chipping to the green, he would proceed to sink a 25-foot putt for par, becoming the first Thunder golfer to make the cut at an NCAA Championship.
"I was not surprised that he made that putt," continued Warren, "Carlos has been a student of the game and spent time every day working on his putting, imagining each putt being at the National Championship."
In the third round of the event, taking place on Thursday, Coeto turned in his second-best performance of the week. After teeing off on hole ten and a rocky back nine performance, Coeto recorded three birdies in a row in the middle of the front nine. He would finish the round with 75 strokes.
In the final round of the event, Coeto would finish with 78 strokes. He finishes the event with 303 total strokes, a 20 over par score and in a tie for 47th place at the event.
"All of our guys went above and beyond this season, in and out of practice," finished Warren, "Playing in this event was a culmination of years of work started by Coach SanGiacomo and these seniors. I want to thank all of them for that work and I look forward next year and making this trip a new tradition for Thunder golf!"
Day Two Recap
-- Story provided by Trine University Athletics --
WHEELING, W. Va. -- The Trine University men's golf team finished day two of the NCAA Division III Championship 20th among the field of 36 just missing the cut for day three, but senior Carlos Coeto (Bernardo, Mexico) will represent the team as an individual after finishing the second day tied for 35ht individually.
The Thunder finished day one in a tie for 22nd after facing off with the tougher of the two courses hosting the championship. They posted a team score of 311 strokes. Coeto led the way individually posting a score of 74 strokes and ending the day in a tie for 23rd as an individual.
Coming in second on the team was sophomore Mitch Lowney (Fenton, Mich. / Clarkston Everest) who posted a score of 79. Seniors Todd Mieske (Owosso, Mich. / Owosso) and Cameron Ruge (Coldwater, Mich. / Coldwater) and freshman Mark Civanich (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso) came all finished the opening round with scores of 80.
Today saw the team post a score of 299 strokes for a two-day total of 612, just seven strokes out of 18th place and a spot in the final two days of the championship.
This time it was Civanich who led the way for the Thunder as he would post a two-over score of 72 on the day and putting him in a tie for 63rd overall. Lowney would record four birdies on the back nine to finish second on the team with a score of 74 in the round. Coeto came in third with a 76 and Ruge rounded out the team score with a 77.
The six lowest-scoring individuals not on an advancing team compete in the final two days of the tournament as individuals with a chance of taking the individual championship. Coeto's two-day total of 150 strokes (+7) was enough to join that group. He will tee off tomorrow at 10:10 a.m. for the third round of the event.
