-- Story provided by Hope College Athletics --
One of the Hope College men's golf team's lowest rounds of the season propelled the Flying Dutchmen to a 22nd-place finish at the 43-team NCAA Division III Championships on Wednesday.
Hope equaled its second-lowest score with a 292 during the second round at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Led by 1-under-par 71s from junior Will Robson and freshman Liam Casey on the 6,701-yard Keene Run course, the Flying Dutchmen rallied to finish just four places from making the 36-hole cut.
Hope's total for two days was 600. Washington and Lee University (Va.) won a tiebreaker for the final spot after tying for 18th place at 594. The 72-hole, four-day tournament continues on Thursday, May 18, at 8 a.m.
Head coach Scott Lokers said he is proud of his team's response to adversity early at the NCAA Championships.
"We were disappointed with our start yesterday," said Lokers, whose five golfers were 29-over after the first nine holes. "We had a rain delay, then came out and played much better. We just wanted to end with a good round, and we got that. 292 is a good score for us. We had two rounds under-par. The cut was surprisingly low. We were here four years ago, and 620 was the cut.
"I'm really proud of these guys and the way they came back. We were really solid today."
The MIAA regular-season and tournament champions matched their 22nd-place finish at nationals from 2022.
Robson (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids HS) rebounded from his first-round 83 with three birdies, 13 pars and two bogeys on Wednesday.
Casey (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) shot six strokes better during the second round, carding two birdies, 15 pars and one bogey.
Freshman Patrick Michael (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) fired a 74 on Wednesday after going 2-under on the back nine with two birdies.
Senior Seth Almquist (Minneapolis, Minnesota / Wayzata) chipped in a second-round 76.
Sophomore Jack Guerrera (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) shot a 77 on Wednesday.
