The MSU men’s golf team saved the best for last at the NCAA East Regional, but it still was not enough to advance to the NCAA Championship.
The Spartans shot a 301 in the final round of the three-day tournament in Roswell, Ga., on Saturday to finish with a score of 914 overall.
MSU’s score was 15 strokes more than Alabama-Birmingham’s 899, which clinched the 10th and final automatic bid to the national championship. The Spartans placed 16th in the field of 27.
MSU head coach Mark Hankins said the team fell short of his expectations.
“We played what I considered not good, and we were still in the middle of the pack,” Hankins said.
The Spartans finished the opening round with a 308, which tied them for 22nd place after 18 holes. They followed that with a second round score of 305.
It was MSU’s first appearance in an NCAA regional since 1994.
“The guys were a little nerved up,” Hankins said. “We got better each round and that’s what we try to do. Hopefully we can use that as a learning experience.”
While MSU’s season came to an end, junior Eric Jorgensen earned himself a ticket to the NCAA Championship, which takes place May 29-June 1 in Columbus, Ohio.
“I feel pretty confident that he’ll play well,” Hankins said.
Jorgensen shot a 219 during the three-day regional to finish in a tie for eighth place. He qualified because he was one of the top two individual golfers playing for a team that failed to qualify for nationals.
Freshman Andrew Ruthkoski finished second on the Spartans with a total of 227 at the East Regional.
“I’m extremely pleased how Andrew played,” Hankins said. “He handled the pressure very well and probably played better than he scored. He played really well on a tough golf course.”
Junior John Koskinen and sophomore Casey Lubahn each ended the tournament with scores of 236. Sophomore J.J. Beckstrom finished with a 239.
Before Jorgensen goes off to the national finals alone, he will participate in the U.S. Open qualifier today at the Muskegon Country Club along with Koskinen, Lubahn, Ruthkoski and Beckstrom.
