- LOPPNOW WINS REGIONAL TITLE
- GOLFERS END DAY ONE TIED FOR LEAD
- PIONEERS HOST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
- GOLFERS WIN IN ARIZONA
- STINSON LEADS WBU TO A THIRD PLACE FINISH
- PIONEERS FINISH 5TH AT UST INTERCOLLEGIATE
- GOLFERS COME ALIVE IN FINAL ROUND
- PIONEERS IN TENTH PLACE AFTER FIRST DAY
- GOLFERS BEGIN SPRING SEASON IN CALIFORNIA
- WBU #10 IN NAIA FALL RATINGS
- GOLFERS COME FROM BEHIND FOR WIN
- STINSON TIED FOR LEAD AFTER FIRST DAY OF PLAY
- PIONEERS WIN PEAKS CLASSIC IN SHOOTOUT
- GOLFERS READY TO GET UNDERWAY
- PIONEERS NAMED TO ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
- GOLFERS EARN CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM AWARD
LOPPNOW WINS REGIONAL TITLE
Lubbock, Tex.---Freshman Michael Loppnow short a four-under par 68 in the final round of competition to help lead the Pioneers to a second place finish at the 2008 Region VI Men’s Golf Championships. Loppnow’s three round total of 208 (71-69-68) earned him the individual title by one stroke over Oklahoma City University’s Anthony Michael (67-71-71).
Loppnow, a native of Capetown, South Africa went into Tuesday morning’s third round two strokes behind Michael, who also hales from South Africa. WBU’s freshman sensation made up one stroke on the front nine with a birdie on the ninth hole. He also birdied 11, but Michael’s eagle put the OCU junior back up by two.
A birdie on 12 by Loppnow narrowed the margin back to one, and then he took the lead on Michael’s double-bogey two holes later.
Michael evened things back up with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole, but Loppnow sank a 15-foot putt from the edge of the green to birdie 18 and win his first regional championship.
“When he hit it, I thought it was going to be short,” said Pioneer coach Tom Harp, after the tournament, which WBU hosted at Hillcrest Country Club. “The greens were running slow, but the ball got there and fell in.
“What a great young man. Michael is as mature a freshman as I’ve ever seen, just a natural talent who can perform in clutch situations.”
WBU junior Kevin Stinson earned All-Region and All-Conference honors with his third place finish. Stinson had a three round total of 213 (72-70-71).
As a team, the Pioneers shot even par in Tuesday’s final round to finish with an 862 (290-284-288), six strokes in back of Oklahoma City University (283-291-282), which won its 12th consecutive regional title. Oklahoma Christian, the NAIA’s top ranked team, was third (284-296-288).
Harp admitted that his team was a little disappointed at not being able to wrest the regional title away from the Stars, but explained that they have bigger goals in mind.
“The guys said that they would rather finish second here than at nationals. That’s a big goal, but one that we feel is certainly attainable. We came up short today, but didn’t play our best golf. Michael and Kevin were flat out great, but our three senior All-Americans still just aren’t clicking.
“Those three have too much talent, and I think the competition is well aware of the fact that you can’t keep them down forever. Those seniors will come together, and it would be a huge thrill if that happened in three weeks at nationals.”
Brent Kirstein finished in 15th place with a 221 (72-73-76), while Plainview’s J.J. Brumley was tied for 18th at 223 (75-72-76). Jeff Dagg rebounded from a sub-par first day to finish tied for 27th with a 227 (76-78-73).
Two other Pioneers competed as individual medalists. Senior Colby Anderson shot a 225 (76-74-75) to finish out his WBU career in a tie for 22nd place. Freshman Cole Martinson completed the 54-holes with a 255 (86-80-89).
Click here for final results
GOLFERS END DAY ONE TIED FOR LEAD
Lubbock, TX---The Pioneer golfers came back from seven strokes down after the first round to tie Oklahoma City University for the lead at 574 in the 2008 NAIA Region VI Men’s Golf Championship.
OCU shot a 283 for the first 18 holes and had a one-stroke lead over Oklahoma Christian and a seven stroke lead over WBU, but the Pioneers came back in the afternoon to shoot a 284 compared to the Stars’ 291. The NAIA’s #1 team, Oklahoma Christian, fell to third with a two round total of 580.
Lubbock Christian University is fourth with a 36 hole total of 596, followed by Northwood University at 597 and Texas Wesleyan at 598.
Oklahoma City’s Anthony Michael is the top individual after the first day of play with a 138 (67-71). Freshman Michael Loppnow of WBU is two strokes back (71-69-140), followed by Kevin Stinson (72-70-142), who is in third.
Brent Kirstein is seven strokes behind the leader (72-73-145) in tenth place, while J.J. Brumley sits in 14th place with a 147 (75-72).
The championship tournament, which is being played at Hillcrest Country Club, concludes on Tuesday after another round of 18.
Click here for complete results of the first two rounds.
PIONEERS HOST REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
Six teams currently in the NAIA’s Top 25 will be among the ones competing in the 2008 NAIA Region VI Men’s Golf Championship on April 21 and 22 at Hillcrest Country Club.
Top-ranked Oklahoma Christian, defending NAIA champion and third-ranked Oklahoma City University, #9 Wayland Baptist, the 2007 NAIA runner-up, and #10 Southern Nazarene highlight the field of 12 teams which begin play on Monday morning at 8:30 with a shotgun start. Two rounds are scheduled to be played that first day, with the final round of 18 set to start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Among the other ranked teams competing for the automatic bid to the 2008 NAIA National Championships are #14 Texas Wesleyan University and #20 Northwood University. The national competition is set for May 13-16 at Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Ind.
Oklahoma City University has won 11 straight Region VI titles, but Pioneer coach Tom Harp thinks this may be the year that streak ends.
“Oklahoma Christian is obviously the favorite this year. They are a very solid team. OK City is also solid, but they lost a key guy to graduation last year and he is tough to replace.
“We had a spectacular fall and then struggled a bit at the start of this spring. The past few tournaments, though, we have shown steady improvement. Our team is strong and it is deep, and we have an advantage because we will be playing on a course we are more familiar with.”
Kevin Stinson, Jeff Dagg, J.J. Brumley, Michael Loppnow and Brent Kirstein make up the Pioneer five. Stinson took home the individual crown at the Thunderbird Invitational three weeks ago in Goodyear, Ariz., while WBU won the team title. Dagg was a close third, and Brumley finished sixth.
“Kevin has continually improved all year. Jeff struggled early, but has been playing better, and J.J. has finally returned to form. If Brent can play well, it will really be a big boost.”
The six other members of NAIA Region VI playing in Lubbock on Monday and Tuesday are Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Baptist, Mid-America Christian, Northwestern Oklahoma State, College of the Southwest, and the University of Texas-Brownsville.
GOLFERS WIN IN ARIZONA
Goodyear, Ariz.---The ninth-ranked Wayland Baptist golf team came back from four strokes down going into Tuesday morning's final round and out-shot Central Oklahoma 277-285 to capture their first Grand Canyon Thunderbird Invitational title. The Pioneers’ 54-hole total of 845 (19-under par) set a new school record, as did the final round total of 277 (11-under), which was seven strokes better than any of the other 18 teams participating in the event.
Junior Kevin Stinson celebrated his 22nd birthday by winning the individual crown, shooting a tournament low eight-under 64 in the third round to edge out teammate Jeff Dagg. Stinson’s totals of 72-69-64 (205) were three strokes better than Dagg’s 208 (70-66-72), which tied him for second. The 66 that Dagg shot in Monday’s second round was the low round to that point. Plainview’s J.J. Brumley had his best showing of the spring with a sixth place finish (72-71-69-212).
WBU was in third place after Monday’s first round, shooting a 290. Coach Tom Harp’s squad came back in round two with what was then a tournament-low 278 to move into second place behind the University of Central Oklahoma, which had a two round total of 564 (281-283).
“It was just a spectacular tournament for us,” said Harp on his way back from Arizona yesterday evening. “The last three weeks I’ve really felt like we were turning things around, and I thought we had a good chance this week, but I never dreamed that we would play like we did.
“For Kevin to play like that, and in front of his parents on his birthday, was just a special, special time. When he made the turn today he was 3-under, and then he birdied 11 to get to 4-under, and I was pretty excited about the way things were looking. I left and made the circle and when I got back he had birdied the next four holes to move to 8-under.
“Jeff was also solid all three rounds, and J.J. played great and finished really strong. I think we shattered just about every tournament record at Wayland the last two days.”
This is the third straight year the WBU golfers have played in the Thunderbird Invitational. They have finished second the past two years.
Michael Loppnow (76-72-72-220) and senior Brent Kirstein (81-75-75-231) also competed for the Pioneers who are off now until April 21 and 22 when they host the NAIA Region VI Championships at Hillcrest Country Club in Lubbock.
For complete results, click here.
STINSON LEADS WBU TO THIRD PLACE FINISH
Edmond, Okla.---The Wayland Baptist men’s golf team finished third at the 2008 Sleep Inn & Suites Classic at River Oaks Country Club Tuesday. The Pioneers shot a three-round total of 912 to finish two strokes ahead of fifth-ranked Texas Wesleyan University.
Junior Kevin Stinson, who shot a tournament low 68 in the first round, finished in a tie for third with a 54-hole total of 220. Brent Kirstein was the only other Pioneer to finish in the top 20. The senior from South Africa shot a 229 to tie for 19th.
Other WBU golfers playing were Jeff Dagg (22nd – 230), J.J. Brumley (25th – 232), Michael Loppnow (t37th – 236), and Colby Anderson (t40th – 238).
Top-ranked Oklahoma Christian won the classic with an 895. Southern Nazarene, ranked #24 in the first 2008 NAIA Coaches Poll, was second, four strokes ahead of WBU at 907.
For complete results, click here.
PIONEERS FINISH 5TH AT UST INTERCOLLEGIATE
The Pioneer golf team finished fifth in a field of top-ranked NAIA teams at the UST Texas Intercollegiate held Sunday and Monday at Hawks Creek Golf Club in Ft. Worth.
The field of teams featured six ranked in the NAIA Top 25, including top-ranked Oklahoma Christian, #3 Oklahoma City, #5 Texas Wesleyan, the Pioneers at #10, #19 Northwood, and #24 Southern Nazarene.
WBU was in third place after Sunday’s first day of play with a 295, but stumbled during Monday’s second round, shooting a 307 to fall to fifth place.
Individually, freshman Michael Loppnow finished tied for tenth place with a two round total of 147 (73, 74). Kevin Stinson also finished in the top 20 individuals with a 150 (73, 77) that tied him at 16th.
Jeff Dagg (74, 78-152), Brent Kirstein (75, 78 – 153) and J.J. Brumley (80, 79-159) rounded out the Pioneer five. Senior Colby Anderson competed as an individual and finished with a total of 153 (76, 77).
Oklahoma City University shot a 290 in both rounds to finish atop the field. Southern Nazarene was second with a 588, Texas Wesleyan jumped shot a second round of 292 to jump up to places into third with a 589, and Northwood shot a two round total of 599 for fourth place.
For complete results, click here.
GOLFERS COME ALIVE IN FINAL ROUND
San Diego, Calif.---The Pioneer golfers made up 17 strokes in the final round to finish 6th at the Smee Builders Invitational at Steele Canyon Golf Club. The WBU five shot a low-round 295 on Tuesday, rebounding from a disappointing first day.
Jeff Dagg, the top individual for the Pioneers, placed 16th with a three-round total of 228 (72-82-74). Junior Kevin Stinson also finished in the top 20 with a 230 (77-77-76), tying for 19th place.
Freshman Michael Loppnow, who shot an 80 and 82 in the first two rounds, tied for the low-round on Tuesday with an even par 70, moving up to 25th. Colby Anderson, a senior, also had his best performance on the final day with a 75 to finish with a 239 (82-82-75).
Brent Kirstein (80-77-87 - 244) also competed for the Pioneers.
Host Point Loma Nazarene won the tournament with an 899. Region VI members Southern Nazarene finished 9th (937), while Texas Wesleyan, the NAIA's #5 team, completed the invitational in 12th place (945).
For complete results, click here.
PIONEERS IN TENTH PLACE AFTER FIRST DAY
(San Diego, Calif.)---The Pioneer golf team was in 10th place after the first day of play at the Smee Builders Invitational hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University at Steele Canyon Golf Club. WBU shot a a 627 and are one stroke in front of #5 Texas Wesleyan, which is in 11th place.
Individually, Kevin Stinson and Jeff Dagg are tied for 25th place after posting two-round totals of 154.
GOLFERS BEGIN SPRING SEASON IN CALIFORNIA
The Pioneer team got its spring season underway today at the Smee Builders Invitational hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University at Steele Canyon Golf Club in San Diego, Calif. The Pioneers, who were ranked #10 in last week’s first NAIA Coaches Poll, won the same tournament a year ago.
“We will be competing against some quality teams, and I’m not sure if we’re really in top form right now,” said Pioneer coach Tom Harp who is in his seventh year as head of the WBU golf program. “Southern Nazarene and Texas Wesleyan (ranked #5) will both be there from our region, as well as the University of Victoria (ranked #7). California-Stanislaus is a quality D-II program and the University of California-San Diego will also be playing.”
Junior Kevin Stinson and senior Brent Kirstein had the top qualifying rounds for the Pioneers during team competition last week and will be playing in the top two groups.
“Kevin has really grown and I really believe he will be a big part of the success we have this spring. Brent is beginning to get back to really good form. The more he plays, the better he gets, and I’m looking for really great things from him in his final spring.”
Another senior, Colby Anderson, has worked extremely hard over the past several months, according to Harp, and played his way into the third position. Freshman Michael Loppnow and senior Jeff Dagg round out the group traveling to California with Harp.
The Pioneers were the runner-up at last spring’s national championships, and won their first two tournaments during the fall season, defeating top-ranked Oklahoma Christian in a play-off in the Peaks Classic in Colorado, and overcoming a host of top California universities in another. Harp feels this may be the year that Wayland comes away with the banner.
“This group is so talented. They are ready to win, and this could be the year we get it done. We have a great opportunity in front of us.”
After their trip to Southern California, the Pioneers will travel to Ft. Worth on March 16 & 17 for the UST Intercollegiate at Hawks Creek Golf Club. On March 24-25, WBU will play in the Sleep Inn & Suites Classic in Edmond, Okla., and then will return to Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz. on March 31 for the Thunderbird Invitational, where they have had a lot of success the past three years.
Local fans will get a rare chance to see the Pioneers in action on April 21 and 22, when Wayland hosts the NAIA Region VI Championships at Hillcrest Golf Club in Lubbock on April 21 and 22.
WBU #10 IN NAIA FALL RATINGS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Oklahoma Christian men's golf team earned 10 of the possible 13 first place votes and ranked No. 1 in the 2007 National Association Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men's Golf Fall Rating. The Eagles earned the top spot for the second straight season with 322 total points.
British Columbia claimed the second spot in the poll with 310 total points and the remaining three first place votes. The defending national champion Oklahoma City holds the No. 3 spot with 302 points while Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) is at No. 4 with 286 points and Texas Wesleyan rounds out the Top 5 with 270 points.
The Pioneers received 203 votes to come in 10th. Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City, and Texas Wesleyan are all members of NAIA Region VI.
The WBU men won their first two tournaments of the fall season, including a tie-breaker over Oklahoma Christian in the Peaks Classic back in September, but stumbled badly in the Sleep Inn & Suites Classic, the final tournament of their fall season, finishing in eighth place, behind five of the teams ranked ahead of them in the fall poll.
The first spring rating will be released on February 29, 2008. The Pioneers begin their season on March 3 in San Diego.
GOLFERS COME FROM BEHIND FOR WIN
Chico, Cal.---The Pioneer golf team won its second tournament title of the fall season by coming from behind at the InterWest Wildcat Classic held Monday and Tuesday at Butte Creek Country Club. Freshman Michael Loppnow (72-74-72-218) shot even par in the final round to come away with individual medalist honors.
Down three strokes after 36 holes, the WBU five combined to shoot a tournament-low 292 on the final 18 to defeat Sonoma State University, a top ranked NCAA Division II school, by one stroke. Rainy conditions prevailed during most of the two-day event.
Senior Brent Kirstein (76-76-70-222) rebounded from a subpar first day to shoot two-under on Tuesday for a sixth place finish. Jeff Dagg (75-79-71-225) also came back from an off-day on Monday with a one-under par to finish in a tie for ninth.
Junior Kevin Stinson (72-73-84-229), who was in a tie at the top after the first round, ended up tied for 16th, and J.J. Brumley (75-77-79-231) finished tied for 20th.
The Pioneers have a couple of weeks off before heading to Edmond, Okla. for the Sleep Inn & Suites Classic hosted by Oklahoma Christian University.
Click here to see final results.
STINSON TIED FOR LEAD AFTER FIRST DAY OF PLAY
Junior Kevin Stinson is in first place, tied with two others at one-over 145 after two rounds at the InterWest Wildcat Classic in Chico, Calif. Freshman Michael Loppnow is one stroke back in fourth place. The Pioneers (594) are sitting in second place, three strokes behind front-running Sonoma State University (591).
The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday morning at Butte Creek Country Club. Click here for more of Monday's results.
PIONEERS WIN PEAKS CLASSIC IN SHOOTOUT
The Pioneer golfers made up eight strokes over second-ranked Oklahoma Christian in the final round of competition, and then won a two-hole sudden death playoff to win the 3rd Annual Peaks Classic at Grandote Peaks Golf Course in LaVeta, CO.
"These guys really clutched it out at the end," said Coach Tom Harp following his team's exciting victory. "You've got to tip a hat to Jeff Dagg today. He shot the low round for the tournament (a 68). He was four-under on the front nine, made one mistake on 11, then birdies the last hole to get us into the playoff.
The Pioneers led by one stroke after the first 18 holes of play on a cool and blustery day in Colorado, but the Eagles from Oklahoma Christian came back in the second round to shoot a 292 that afternoon to move into the lead.
The weather for Tuesday's final 18 started out cool, but it turned into a beautiful autumn day in the Southern Rockies. Dagg and freshman Michael Loppnow combined to help the Pioneers shoot a 288 to earn the tie and force a playoff.
"What a tremendous tournament for freshman Michael Loppnow. In the first tournament of his college career he shoots an even par today. I can't be more excited about the young kid. He birdies the first hole in the playoff, hitting an eight-foot shot, knowing he had to make it just to tie. I'm just thrilled to see the young kid do that."
OC's Bruno Buccolo took individual honors with a three-round total of 215. Noah Smithson of Newman University came in second (217) and WBU's Jeff Dagg and OC's Sean Elliott tied for third place with a 218.
Junior Kevin Stinson, who had a terrific second shot out of the rough in the second hole of sudden death to keep the Pioneers alive, finished the tournament in sixth place with a seven-over 223, one stroke behind Loppnow.
Senior J.J. Brumley came in 10th (229 +13), while fellow senior Brent Kirstein was 16th (233 +17). It was Kirstein's birdie putt in the second hold of the playoff that helped seal the win for WBU.
Colby Anderson was the top Pioneer medalist, finishing 21st, while Cole Martinson was 28th.
GOLFERS READY TO GET UNDERWAY
The Wayland Baptist Pioneer golf team, fresh off its runner-up finish at the 2007 NAIA Championships, gets its fall season underway on Monday when it hosts the 3rd Annual Peaks Classic at Grandote Peaks Golf Club in LaVeta, Col.
The Pioneers return four of the five players off the most successful team in school history, including first team All-Americans Jeff Dagg and Brent Kirstein and Coach Tom Harp, who is back for his seventh year at the helm of the WBU golf program, is eager to get the year underway.
"I'm very excited to start play, as are the guys," says Harp. "We lost just one player from last year's squad [Mikel Martinson, a 2nd team NAIA All-American] and we've replaced him with a very talented freshman from South Africa named Michael Loppnow.
"Michael is more experienced than your average freshman. He played match play with the South African Amateur league over the summer, and wound up playing head-to-head against the number one amateur in the nation. He has a great head for the game and a fun personality, and has fit right in with our team."
Dagg and Kirstein qualified one-two for the tournament in Colorado, according to Harp, and are both very focused going into their final season of collegiate play.
"Those two take their golf careers very seriously and will win some tournament titles this year, both individually and for the team."
The other two Pioneers returning for another chance at a national title are senior J.J. Brumley and junior Kevin Stinson. Brumley, a Plainview High graduate, was a second team All-American selection.
"J.J. looks as sharp as ever. He has a really good look in his eye," says Harp. "Kevin played spectacularly over the summer. I think he has turned a corner and will make a big impact on our team this year."
Four other teams will be competing against the Pioneers in the Peaks Classic, including Sooner Athletic Conference rival Oklahoma Christian University, who is currently ranked second in the Golf World/Nike NAIA Golf Coaches Poll.
"OC is very strong again. They return all their starters back from last year and have recruited some very good new players. Last week they went out to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and won a tournament over some top D-II teams."
Also competing in the 54-hole tournament are Newman University of Wichita, Kan., Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and Grand View College from Des Moines, IA./p>
Returning lettermen Colby Anderson, a senior, and redshirt freshman Cole Martinson will compete as individual medalists for WBU.
back to topPIONEERS NAMED TO ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
Five members of the Wayland Baptist University Pioneer golf team have been honored as 2007 NAIA All-Americans, according to information released by the NAIA office.
Jeff Dagg and Brent Kirstein were first team All-American honorees, J.J. Brumley and Mikel Martinson were named to the second team, and sophomore Kevin Stinson of Mission, British Columbia, was an honorable mention selection. The Pioneers recently finished second at the NAIA National Men’s Golf Tournament.
A junior from Surrey, British Columbia, Dagg led WBU with a third place finish at nationals, shooting an even par 288. He had one first place tournament finish, a second place and a third during the 2006-07 regular season for the Pioneers. Kirstein, a junior transfer from Capetown, South Africa, shot a two-over 290 at the national championships for sixth place. He completed the 2006-07 regular season with two top three finishes and was in the top five in three others.
A 2004 Plainview High graduate, Brumley made the NAIA All-Tournament team after finishing sixth at the 2006 nationals. During his junior season, he had two top three tournament finishes. Martinson, the 2006 Pioneer MVP, won the University of Victoria Shootout this season. The senior from Throckmorton also had a fifth place finish.
back to topGOLFERS EARN CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM AWARD
OLATHE, Kan. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Champions of Character founding partner Buffalo Funds present Buffalo Funds Five Star Awards for each of the NAIA’s 23 championship sports. Wayland Baptist University men’s golf team was recently awarded the Buffalo Funds Five Star Award for its dedication and implementation of the Champions of Character program’s five core values: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. The Pioneers are led by head coach Tom Harp and compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
“Our team foundation is built on prayer. We have faithfully prayed for each other before every tournament round we have ever played. Through difficult times after disappointments, after all day competitions, these young men have prayed,” said Harp. “These young student-athletes have character and will make us proud in the future.”
The Wayland Baptist men’s golf team uses the Champions of Character core values and standards to build a team that rises to the occasion. The Pioneers have shown their maturity in recovering from their mistakes during a tournament but more importantly their ability to recover from mistakes in life. The program stresses that student-athletes honor commitments and the golf team feels that is what makes their approach to sport so valuable. Coach Harp says his experience in traveling with the team reveals their integrity throughout their walk of like. The players honor their commitments even with the little things that may seem insignificant.
The men’s golf team has earned the respect of those around them for honoring the tradition of golf. In a tournament in Colorado earlier this year J.J. Brumley finished his second round with a score that the team needed, but after J.J. signed his scorecard he realized the total score was correct but a box score was incorrect. He knew immediately if he reported the mistake he would be disqualified. That is exactly what he did. The character it took for him to stand up and disqualify was enormous and one he took pride in doing.
“Our character has built an attitude of respect for one another and those we compete against,” said team captain Mikel Martinson. “This has made us one of the closest teams I have ever played for in any sport.”
The Wayland Baptist Pioneers are part of a community dedicated to intentionally teaching character in and out of sport.
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