Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, April 27
Miramar Beach, Fla.
1 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Georgia State (Sun Belt Match Play)
Players Mentioned
/ Golf (M)
/ Golf (M)
/ Golf (M)
/ Golf (M)
/ Golf (M)
Troy Wins Sun Belt Men’s Golf Championship; Moser Birdies Playoff Hole to Clinch
4/27/2016 5:20:00 PM | Golf (M)
MIRAMAR BEACH, Florida – Luke Moser hit a two-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to lift Troy past Georgia State, 3-2, in the Sun Belt Men's Golf Championship Match on Wednesday at the Raven Golf Course. The conference title is Troy's first since winning back-to-back Mid-Continent championships in 1996 and 1997.
Moser entered No. 17 trailing Alex Herrmann by one hole but picked up a birdie to even the match heading into the final hole. All looked lost for the Trojans as Moser's second shot on No. 18 went long off the green and into the water. After getting up and down, Moser sank his first putt for bogey. However, Herrmann three-putted from 10 feet to square the match and force a playoff.
Moser dropped a dart within two feet of the cup on the first playoff hole, while Herrmann was 15 feet away from the pin. Herrmann's putt came up short, while Moser dropped the birdie to clinch the title for the Trojans.
"I am so proud for this group of guys to persevere and win a Sun Belt Conference championship," Troy head coach Matt Terry said. "It took all five of them over four days for us to get to that green on No. 1 for Luke to win it. We got a taste of Regionals last year and are ready to go back and advance to Nationals."
Jared Bettcher put the Trojans on the board and tied the match at 1-1 with a 2&1 victory over Nick Budd. Bettcher hit nine birdies and never trailed in the match after opening with a victory on the first hole and taking control of the match by No. 7. He carried a 4-shot lead into the final four holes of the course.
Bettcher's victory came after J.J. Grey gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with 6&5 victory over Calum Masters.
Clayton Vannoy put Troy in front 2-1 with a dominating 5&3 victory over Nathan Mallonee. Vannoy never trailed over 33 holes of match play on Wednesday and was all square on just two holes. He jumped out to a two-hole lead and made the turn with a three-shot advantage. Vannoy's lead swelled to four after No. 11 and he clinched it on No. 15.
Max Herrmann evened the match at 2-2 with a 1-up victory over Cam Norman to set up the drama between his brother and Moser to decide the title. Troy entered match play as the number two seed after Georgia State won stroke play by six shots earlier in the week.
Troy earns the Sun Belt's automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals after earning an at-large berth last season. The NCAA Selection Show will air Thursday, May 5, at 8:30 a.m. on the Golf Channel.
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