Wittenbach Advances As FSU Ends Region Play

Wittenbach Advances As FSU Ends Region Play

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's golf team posted a 302 team score in Wednesday's (May 9) final round of the 2012 NCAA Division II Midwest/South Central Super Regional to finish in a tie for 10th place at the Jefferson City Country Club in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Bulldogs concluded the 54-hole event with a 896 team score to finish tied with Abilene Christian (Texas) in the super regional featuring 20 schools.  The top five teams overall advanced to the NCAA-II Championships.

FSU shot scores of 300 on Monday, 294 on Tuesday and then 302 on Wednesday in its final team action of the 2011-12 campaign.

While the Bulldogs were not among the five teams advancing to the national championships, FSU will be represented individually by senior Kyle Wittenbach, who placed tied for fourth in the field.  The top two individuals not associated with one of the five qualifying teams also advanced and Wittenbach was among the two individual qualifiers.

Wittenbach carded a final-round score of 69 to move into a tie for fourth place with Trey Lawson of Cameron (Okla.), who earned the other individual bid.  The Bulldog golfer shot 75 in the first round and an even-par 72 in round two before his three-under final round to finish at 216 or even par for the tournament.

With his placing, Wittenbach will now take part in the 2012 NCAA-II Men's Golf Championships slated for May 15-19 at The Cardinal Club in Simpsonville, Ky., as part of the 2012 Division II Spring Championships Festival to be hosted by Bellarmine University and the Louisville Sports Commission.

The Bulldogs' Trent Davison placed tied for 44th overall with a 226 total after shooting a 78 in the final round.  He was followed by senior Garrett Simons, who wound up tied for 54th at 228 following a 75 on Wednesday.

FSU's Gary Bissell came in tied for 62nd with a 229 score as he carded a 81 over the final 18 holes of the competition.  Finally, Richard Weisenberger was tied for 91st in the field at 235 by shooting an 80 in round number three.

Central Missouri State won the super regional crown with an 864 team score.  Washburn (Kan.) came in second at 876 followed by Central Oklahoma (877), Indianapolis (880) and St. Edward's (Texas) at 884 in the top five.  All five teams moved on to the NCAA-II Championships.

The individual winner was Josh Creel of Central Oklahoma, who recorded a three-round total of 211 for the tournament to beat Central Missouri State's Jared King and Cy Moritz by two strokes each.

FSU made its 10th consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearance in a row. The Midwest/South Central Regional was hosted by Lincoln (Mo.) University and consisted of 10 teams from the Midwest Region along with 10 from the South Central Region.