Trojans Make Strong Move, Finish Sixth at SBC Championship

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. ? Going into the final round of the Sun Belt Conference Golf Championship, the Troy Trojans knew they were going to have to put up a great score in order to be in the hunt for the league title.

The Trojans came out strong, but had two rough holes as a team and wound up shooting a final round of 287. That performance was enough to move Troy up two spots, to sixth place overall, just ahead of both Middle Tennessee and North Texas.

“I am proud of the way the team played in the tournament but, at the same time, I am a little disappointed because I know what could have been,” Trojans coach Matt Terry said. “We have got to be a better putting team. We played solid for all three days, but we never got anything going with the putter.”

Denver shot a 289 in the final round and held-off a hard-charging New Orleans squad by one shot to win the school's first Sun Belt Conference team title. South Alabama senior Johnny Caldwell turned in his third straight sub-par round to capture individual honors with an 11-under par score of 205.

The Trojans had two players finish in the top 10 at the tournament. Junior Michael McGrady (Harare, Zimbabwe) shot a final round score of three-under par 69 to finish tied with Hector Arias of New Orleans for seventh place with a three-day score of six-under par 210.

“Michael knew what was at stake coming into the week and I think he showed the kind of player he is,” Terry said. “If he could have gotten a few more putts to fall I have no doubt that he would have been at the top of the leader board.”

McGrady must now wait to see if he will get an invitation to play in an NCAA Regional Tournament. The top six players in the region not on teams in regional play get individual invitations. He currently stands eighth among those not yet assured of team spots.

Senior Jordy Hayden (Livingston, Ala.), playing in perhaps his final collegiate event, shot a final round 70 to finish the tournament at three-under par, 210. He finished tied for 10^th with Lousiana-Lafayette's Devin Carrey.

“I am so proud of Jordy for the way he played this week,” Terry said. “He played solid golf all three days and finished his career in strong fashion.”

Hayden had a bogeyless round going on Wednesday going to the final hole, the ninth on the Robert Trent Jones “Fighting Joe” course. The short par-three wound up costing Hayden two shots after his tee shot went into the water. Hayden had birdies on holes three, 12, 13 and 17 before his double to finish.

In fact, it was the par threes that gave the Trojans the most trouble during the tournament. The four par threes on the “Fighting Joe” course cost the Trojans a total of 14 shots.

The 184-yard 13^th hole was especially unlucky for the Trojans, who played the hole in 10 shots over par for the week. In fact, Troy carded four of its seven total double or triple bogeys on that one hole.

“For whatever reason, that hole just had our number,” Terry said. “Jake Brodhead was eight over par on that hole alone.”

For Brodhead, a junior from Warsaw, Ind., that one hole was the difference between a top 10 finish in the tournament and his tie for 33^rd. He closed with a 73 on Wednesday that included a double-bogey on 13 that was sandwiched between an eagle on 12 and a birdie on 14. His final score of six-over 222 left him tied with four other players for 33^rd.

Junior Wes Parker (Enterprise, Ala.) struggled with his putter all week, but closed with a final round 75 that included birdies on two of his final three holes. He finished the tournament tied for 43^rd at nine-over par 225.

The Trojans' hometown boy, junior Jay Harris from Killen, Ala., also closed with a 75 to finish tied for 45^th at 10-over 226.

Men's All-Conference Team

Daniel Wax (Denver)

Espen Kofstad (Denver)

Jeff Koprivetz (Denver)

Jose Toledo (New Orleans)

Michael Smith (Louisiana-Lafayette)

David McKendrick (ULM)

Rick Cochran (Middle Tennessee)

Chas Narramore (Middle Tennessee)

Anthony Broussard (North Texas)

Jonny Caldwell (South Alabama)

Michael McGrady (Troy)

Brent Long (WKU)

Justin Perry (WKU)

Men's Individual Champion

Johnny Caldwell (South Alabama) ? 205 (-11)

Men's Coach of the Year

Whit Turnbow (Middle Tennessee)

Troy University Athletics

Trojans Make Strong Move, Finish Sixth at SBC Championship

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