Eyeing Regional Championship Next Week

The #2 nationally ranked Mesa men’s golf team wanted to defeat #1 ranked and defending NJCAA Division II national champion South Mountain in the 2011 ACCAC race.  That opportunity has passed and Mesa has the rare position of being number two in their conference and nationally, but the Region I Championship and Division II National Championship are still up for grabs and that is where Mesa’s focus lies.

The men recently completed their last regular season tournament of the year, the Paradise Valley Invite, April 18-19, at the Legend at Arrowhead golf course in Glendale, AZ.  The men took second place with a 294-303-597, nine strokes behind the aforementioned South Mountain.  It was a great day for Mesa sophomore, and 2010 All-American, Kevin Witte, as he recorded his first collegiate win with his one-under 67-76-143.  Fellow Sophomore Grant Dean was right behind him in third place shooting a 73-73-146.  Witte and Dean are ranked 58th and 44th in the nation respectively.  Sophomore Eddie Delashmutt, ranked 13th among NJCAA golfers, took 18th with a 76-78-154.  The final sophomore was Ryan Mahoney, ranked 55th in the nation, in 21st after his 78-77-155.  Freshman Kyle Mahoney (82-77-159), and Andrew Jerman (78-84-162) took 29th and 35th respectively.  It wasn’t the win the team wanted, but coach John Guerrero was happy with Witte’s individual win.

TOURNAMENT LEADERBOARD

PLAYER RANKINGS

“It was a difficult course in difficult conditions,” coach Guerrero said.  “Kevin played the par fives great (he was five-under on the par five holes), and that is what you need to do in tournament golf.”

The T-Birds must now refocus on the 2011 Region I Championships, April 28-May 1, at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Litchfield, AZ.  Mesa must finish in the top two to advance to the national tournament.  The national championships were held at Palm Valley last year and Mesa knows the course well.

“We finished second in the conference to the defending champion, #1 team in the nation,” coach Guerrero said.  “We didn’t get it done in conference, but we feel our top five is as good as anyone in the nation.  Our focus now is to win a regional championship on a course that our players have a good track record on.”