For the second year in a row, Sam Houston State’s men’s golf team has captured the Southland Conference Championship with senior J.T. Taylor taking the SLC individual championship.
The Bearkats move on to the NCAA regional tournament after winning the SLC championship Wednesday at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.
The Kats claimed the title after edging McNeese State by two strokes with a score of 881 after three rounds with Southeastern Louisiana finishing third with a final score of 919.
Taylor led the Bearkats ending the tournament where he started it. His first place performance came leading the tournament after day one and not looking back. He began the tournament shooting a 70 before he slowly lost his game a bit by shooting a 72 in the second. In the third round, he brought his score back to 71 to finish one stroke ahead of Central Arkansas’ Pep Angles.
“Our conference championship is the most important event we play in all year and to finish on top is very satisfying,” Taylor said. “To win Southland Conference Championship as a team validates all of our hard work and dedication.”
Senior Zach Cabra was the second closest Bearkat, ending tied for fifth place with Grandy Brame from Southeastern Louisiana. Cabra won the tournament last year but had a slow start this year. He shot a 73 in the first round and a 78 in the second. He ended the last round fixing his game and shooting a 71.
Freshman Jake McCrory and sophomore Andrew Ertel both tied for 12th place. McCrory shot a 76 in the first round followed by a 77 in the second and a 73 in the third. Ertel started with a 72 in the first round then moved to a 76 in the second and a 78 in the third. Senior Logan Boatner shot a 73 in the first round followed by a 75 and an 84 in the last round to finish out the Kats.
SHSU now will await where the team will head for NCAA regionals during the selection show May 4 at 9 a.m. on the Golf Channel. Last season, the Bearkats finished five strokes away from the NCAA National Championships.
