May 17, 2008
Bremerton, Wash. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The 25th-ranked UCF men's golf team concluded play at the NCAA West Regional on Saturday, placing 19th in the field of 27 teams. The Knights fell short in their bid to reach the NCAA Championship as the top 10 teams advanced from each of the three regionals across the country.
Freshman Kyle Cobb (Tallahassee, Fla.) posted his best round of the tournament and the day for the Knights as he carded a 73 (+1). The team finished with a 300 (+12), which was its best round of the 54-hole event at the Gold Mountain Golf Club. The Knights' three-day total was 903 (+39).
The Knights had to play without their top player on Saturday after junior Greg Forest had to withdraw after five holes due to an illness. Forest had the best 36-hole score for the Knights (148 (+4) entering the final round.
"It was a tough day for us, especially having to play with only four guys," head coach Nick Clinard said. "It is hard to make a run without one of your top players, but I'm proud of the guys for taking their best shot at advancing."
Southern Cal won the West Regional and advanced along with Oregon, Clemson, Washington, UCLA, Stanford, St. Mary's (Calif.) and Arizona State. Pepperdine, Texas and San Diego State were going to have a playoff to decide the final two teams to advance to West Lafayette, Ind., in two weeks for the national championship.
Junior David Johnson (Palm Bay, Florida) joined Cobb by posting his best round of the tournament with a 74 (+2). Johnson made third birdies in his final 18 holes, while senior Giwon Suh (Orlando, Fla.) made four birdies and an eagle in his final event for the Knights to card a 75 (+3).
Suh was the top finisher for UCF, placing in a tie for 53rd with a three-round score of 225 (+9). Sophomore Mike Stern (Miami, Fla.) carded a 78 (+6) in his final round to finish with a three-day total of 229 (+13). Cobb and Johnson both finished with 54-hole totals of 230 (+14).
The Knights had one of their better seasons in recent memory, winning two events in a season for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
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