Full Tournament Results
ALLENDALE, MI – Senior
Zack Kempa sunk a birdie on the final hole of the third round, propelling the Crimson Hawks into match play in the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich.
Kempa's birdie capped a four-stroke comeback for IUP with seven holes left to play. The Crimson Hawks sat in 10
th place, four strokes back of the cut with players on holes 11 through 15. They followed with six birdies by three different players, including two by Kempa on the final two holes.
The clinching stroke on the par five ninth hole was a four-footer, which was Kempa's second putt after landing on the green in two. His first putt came from about 50 feet away and came up short but set up a fairly easy birdie.
Had Kempa hit par on the hole, IUP would have had to win a playoff with North Alabama to advance to match play.
The top eight teams after three rounds advanced to match play, with IUP battling three other schools for the final two spots for most of the day. Along with the Crimson Hawks, North Alabama, California State-Monterey Bay, and Armstrong Atlantic looked to advance. As IUP and Armstrong Atlantic went into the final two holes, the latter held a four stroke lead, with North Alabama sitting in ninth place, one stroke back of Armstrong.
The Crimson Hawks shot an 11-over 295 on Wednesday, their best score of the championships. Their three round total of 895 (43-over) tied with Cal State-Monterey Bay for seventh overall. North Alabama finished ninth, one stroke back at 44-over 896 while Armstrong Atlantic was 10
th with a 46-over 898.
Their opponent in match play will be Nova Southeastern, which finished the third round in the lead with an 11-over 863. The Sharks fired a three-under 281 in Wednesday's third round. With a victory, IUP would advance to play the winner of Malone and Central Missouri in a second round of 18 holes on Thursday.
Kempa shot a one-over 72 on the day, although, in his final 10 holes he tallied four birdies and six pars. Two of those birdies came on par fives as he rebounded from three bogeys and a double bogey in his first seven holes. He finished his three rounds in a tie for 19
th place with a nine-over 222.
Kenneth Sames also played an important part down the stretch, as he finished with IUP's best score of the day with a one-under 70. He scored four birdies and 11 pars, with two of those birdies coming in his final six holes. He was also the Crimson Hawks' top scorer for the tournament, finishing in a tie for 11
th place with a seven-over 220.
Brett Geiser wrapped up his three rounds in a tie for 52
nd place with a 14-over 227. He had IUP's best round on Monday with a two-over 73 and followed with two six-over 77s. He pared his final three holes on Wednesday, clinching one on his final hole after chipping out from the rough.
Jack Owen finished in a tie for 63
rd with a 16-over 229. He shot a five-over 76 on Wednesday, getting a key birdie on the par three seventh hole, followed by pars on eight and nine as he closed out his round.
Max Kirsch, battling an injury throughout, finished in a tie for 100
th with a 27-over 240. He shot a seven-over 78 in the third round, getting two birdies on the day.
Match play on Thursday morning will consist of four contests. Along with IUP (eighth seed) and Nova Southeastern (first seed), Barry (second seed) will battle Cal State-Monterey Bay (seventh seed); Chico State (third seed) will face Lynn (sixth seed); and Central Missouri (fourth seed) will go against Malone (fifth seed). The winners will face each other in the afternoon and the final two teams will go against each other for the Division II title on Friday.
