An improbable comeback has made Arkansas Tech University one of the final eight teams standing in pursuit of the 2017 NCAA Division II national championship in men’s golf.
The Wonder Boys will face Barry University in the quarterfinals of match play at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships at Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., on Thursday, May 25.
Follow live statistics from the ATU-Barry match.
The event began Monday through Wednesday with 54 holes of stroke play competition. Only the top eight teams in stroke play would keep their national title hopes alive by advancing to the match play portion of the championships.
Arkansas Tech was 18th among a field of 20 teams after it posted an opening-round team score of 299. A second-round 293 lifted the Wonder Boys three positions to a share of 15th place, but they were still outside the cut line entering Wednesday’s final round of stroke play.
ATU kept its season alive with a score of 289 on Wednesday, the best final-round total among the 20-team field. The Wonder Boys edged out the University of North Alabama by a single stroke — 881 to 882 — to advance to match play.
Ryan Spurlock (T-32nd, 77-72-71-220), Jonathan Echberg (T-32nd, 75-73-72-220), Austin Smith (T-40th, 74-74-74-222), Luke Cornett (T-40th, 76-74-72-222) and Putter Srinoon (T-80th, 74-75-80-229) are Arkansas Tech’s representatives at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships.
Smith, a senior from Russellville, made a birdie on the final hole of stroke play to seal Tech’s berth in the top eight.
The Wonder Boys are coached by Luke Calcatera.
