May 7, 2008

Complete Results

Gavin Smith went birdie-par on the final two holes to help IUP wrap up a two-stroke victory over West Liberty State and the championship of the NCAA Division II East Region tournament Wednesday in Middletown, Del.

The win sends the Crimson Hawks to the NCAA national tournament for the first time since 2005 and the fifth time overall under head coach Fred Joseph. Nationals will be held May 14-17 in Houston, Texas.

IUP finished with a team score of 325 for the third round and total of 924. Windy conditions at the Back Creek Golf Course Wednesday led to the highest scoring day of any of the three rounds.

Smith led the Crimson Hawks by tying for sixth place at 228, one stroke ahead of Nic Milito, who tied for ninth. Smith rolled in a 12-foot birdie put on the 17th hole and then left a 40-footer for birdie just inches from the cup, tapping in for his par that all but guaranteed the IUP win.

Milito was tied for the lead after the second round with Clarion's Jared Schmader, who shot a 76 Wednesday and total of 222 to claim the individual title by three shots.

The win was the fifth in 11 events for IUP this season, including the PSAC title in October. The Crimson Hawks will be looking to improve on the team's best ever finish at nationals, a 13th-place showing in 1993.

Ryan Kennedy tied for 14th (232), Cory Stelick tied for 17th (236) and Leo Acklin tied for 21st (238). The same five golfers will be playing for IUP at the national tournament.

Fairmont State, which was neck-and-neck with IUP for most of the final round, faded at the end and finished 11 shots back at 935. Rounding out the eight team field were Clarion (938), Ohio Valley (948), Charleston (950), Millersville (971) and Concord (972).