Top-10 individual finishes by Austin Smith and Dylan Lovell helped the Arkansas Tech University men’s golf team finish as the runner-up in the 2016 GAC Championships, which concluded on Tuesday at Hot Springs Country Club.
Smith posted rounds of 75-70-69 for a 2-under par total of 214 and a share of fifth place. Lovell shot 73-69-74 to finish at even-par 216 and in sole possession of eighth place.
Julio Arguelles (T-20th, 72-78-75-225), Jordan Hawkes (T-32nd, 80-75-73-228) and Bryce Burke (T-34th, 75-74-80-229) also represented the Wonder Boys in Hot Springs.
Arkansas Tech returned team scores of 295-288-291 to complete the event with a 54-hole team total of 874.
Henderson State University captured the team championship with a three-day score of 849. HSU’s Brice Howard earned a five-stroke victory in the individual standings after rounds of 71-67-66 gave him a 12-under par total of 204.
The Wonder Boys will be part of a 14-team field at the NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Regional, which will be contested at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., May 2-4.
