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Baylor men's golf earns NCAA Championship berth

Posted at 11:45 PM, May 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-16 00:45:38-04

WACO, TX — Baylor men’s golf finished in third place at the NCAA Louisville Regional, punching its ticket to a school-record fourth consecutive NCAA Championship. The Bears posted the best round of the day with a 7-under 277 on Wednesday at University of Louisville Golf Club, and they finished with a three-round total of 7-under 845, which was 17 strokes in front of the top-five team cut to advance to nationals.

No. 25 Baylor (-7) entered the day 15 strokes back of No. 11 Auburn for the tournament lead, and the Bears made up the difference passing Auburn and moving into a tie with No. 1 Oklahoma State atop the leaderboard about two-thirds of the way through the final round. OSU (-14) closed with 11 birdies over the final six holes to take the regional title, and Auburn (-10) took second place. Tournament-host No. 21 Louisville (+7) and No. 13 North Florida (+8) also earned NCAA Championship berths, while No. 48 West Virginia (+10) finished in sixth place, just two shots shy of earning a trip to nationals.

Baylor also placed in front of Mississippi State (+14), No. 37 Iowa State (+15), No. 49 Arizona (+17), Southern Illinois (+25), No. 35 Arkansas State (+26), New Mexico (+29) and Jacksonville State (+34).

BU was led by senior Garrett May, who carded six birdies on his way to a final-round 5-under 66 to climb 15 spots into a tie for sixth place at 4-under 209. Colin Kober posted his best round of the tournament with a 2-under 69 to move up 16 spots into a tie for 25th place at 3-over 216. Ryan Grider nearly notched a bogey-free round, but even with a bogey on No. 18 he recorded 1-under 70 to finish tied for 18th place at 1-under 212.

Cooper Dossey posted Baylor’s final counting score of the day with a 1-over 72, and he finished tied for 12th place at 2-under 211. Dossey has finished second, seventh and tied for 12th in his three career NCAA Regional appearances. Senior Braden Bailey shot 4-over 75 to finish tied for 50th place at 10-over 223. Bailey will become the first player in program history to make four NCAA Championship appearances, while May and Dossey will be appearing for the third consecutive season and Grider for the second straight year. Kober has been the Bears’ designated alternate in each of the last two NCAA Championships.