HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. --- Guilford College shot 306 and slipped to 11th place after Thursday's third round of the 41-team NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships at the Mission Inn Resort. The Quakers, who started the day in a share of third place in the 41-team field, fell 34 strokes behind third-ranked Oglethorpe University (285-292-290-867). The Stormy Petrels shot the day's low round and opened a 16-shot edge over second-place Methodist University (291-300-292-883). Nine different teams, including Guilford (300-296-306-901), are within nine strokes of third-place Transylvania University (308-288-296-892).
Oglethorpe, which has led after all three rounds, continued its
dominance on the par-72, 6,926-yard El Campeon Course Thursday. The
Stormy Petrels have three students among the top-12 individuals in
the 210-man field, including leader Anthony Maccaglia and
second-place Hayden Jones. Maccaglia, a freshman, started the day
with a three-stroke lead over his sophomore teammate and two others
and shot four-under 68 Thursday, matching his own low round of the
tournament. With a 68-71-68-207, he enters Friday's fourth and
final round with a seven-shot lead over Jones (71-71-72-214).
Previous medalist and last year's runner-up, Tain Lee of Claremont
Mudd Scripps Colleges, showed why he is a three-time All-America by
posting a third-round 71 to sit in third place at 1-under for the
week.
Guilford junior Noah Ratner had the Quakers' low round for the
second straight day with an even-par 72. The two-time defending Old
Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year had two birdies on
the back nine after making the turn at one-over par. He climbed 21
places on the individual leaderboard into a share of 12th place at
78-71-72-221.
Quakers' senior Dusty Roberts and freshman Mitch Robinette both shot 77 Thursday. Roberts was two-over through 16 holes, but faltered with a bogey-double bogey on 17 and 18. Robinette, who started the day in 17th place after two very consistent rounds, hit a snag with a triple bogey on the par-four fourth. He recovered to play the rest of his round at one-over par and shares 28th place at 74-73-77-224.
Guilford freshman Drew Thompson scored for the third straight round with an 80 that included three birdies. Classmate Nick Shedd started the day with a birdie and made the turn at two-over, but finished with an 82.
The championship concludes with Friday's fourth and final round.
Friday's action will begin at 7:40 a.m. with the lead groups going
off at 9:00 a.m. The Quakers are scheduled to tee off the
10th hole at 8:30 a.m. with Greensboro College and the
University of La Verne.
Guilford is ranked fifth in the May 16 Golf World/NIKE Division III
Coaches' Poll and ninth in the latest Golfstat.com Division III
Head-to-Head Ratings. The Quakers are after their third national
title in 11 years after winning the 2005 and 2002 NCAA titles.
This release is courtesy of the Guilford College sports information department.