May 25, 2010
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Under new head coach Bryce Wallor, the UCF men's golf team peaked at the right time during the 2009-10 campaign. The squad played its best golf at the end of the season, making the year a true success for the Knights.
Team Highlights
- For the second-straight year, the Knights claimed the title at the Conference USA Championship in nearby Sorrento, receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals
- The Knights finished the 11-team conference event at 6-under 858, 18 shots ahead of Rice and Southern Miss, who tied for second place
- Four of the five UCF golfers posted top-10 finishes
- UCF led the entire duration of the three-day tournament
- The team earned the No. 6 seed at the NCAA Regionals in Santee, Calif.
- UCF finished sixth out of 13 squads at the regional tournament
- The Knights claimed their third-consecutive title at their home event, the Rio Pinar Invitational
- The team concluded the three-round, 18-team event in Orlando at 850 (-14), 19 strokes ahead of second-place Charlotte
- Four Knights finished the tournament in the top-10 individually
- The field included seven of the top-75 squads in the nation
- UCF posted a 7-under 281 on the final 18 holes
Individual Highlights
Connor Arendell
- Posted a 74.2 stroke average in his first year at UCF after transferring from Louisville
- Tied for second at the Conference USA Championship at 2-under 214
- At the BancorpSouth Intercollegiate, tied for 17th (217, +1)
- Named to the All-Conference USA Second Team
- Led the squad with a 73.4 stroke average
- Had four top-10 performances
- Tied for second at 214 (-2) at the C-USA Championship
- Placed third at 4-under 214 at the Rio Pinar Invitational
- Earned C-USA Player of the Week honors after tying for 14th at the Prestige at PGA WEST
- Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team
- Tied for sixth at the Rio Pinar Invitational at 1-under 215
- Earned a spot on the All-Conference USA Second Team
- Recorded a 73.5 stroke average, the second-best mark on the squad
- Posted four top-10 finishes
- At the NCAA Regionals, tied for 18th at 222 (+6)
- Tied for second at the C-USA Championship (214, -2)
- At the Hootie at Bulls Bay, tied for 10th (211, -2)
- Finished second at 5-under 211 at the Ro Pinar Invitational
- Began the year by tying for 10th at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate (217, +4)
- At the NCAA Regionals, tied for 14th at 5-over 221
- In the final round, carded a 72 (E)
- Tied for 22nd at 6-over 150 at the Golden Ocala Invitational
- Registered a 74.6 stroke average
- Had three top-10 finishes
- Tied for eighth with a 2-under 142 at the Golden Ocala Invitational
- At the Conference USA Championship, tied for sixth at 216 (E)
- Finished fifth at the Rio Pinar Invitational at 2-under 214
Academic Highlights
- Five Knights - Connor Arendell, Nuno Henriques, Brad Schneider, Devin Spies and Simon Ward - earned Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll status
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.