Junior Mike Mlikotic shot the low round of the day to help Simon Fraser University golf team claim a berth to the upcoming nationals.
Mlikotic carded a four-under-par 68 on the final day of the three-day West/South Central Super Regional golf championships, tying with freshman teammate and recent Great Northwest conference champion Kevin Vigna for eighth place with 221 totals over 54 holes.
Conference player of the year Mike Belle also finished strongly, firing a one-over-par 73.
Freshman Craig Titterington also saved his best for last, carding a final round 75.
Bret Thompson contributed rounds of 78, 77, 78 to the overall team’s final day low combined score of 290.
“The last rounds scoring was a reflection of our players’ ability,” said SFU head coach John Buchanan in a Clan press release. “The challenge for NCAA championship will now be to stay consistent and play to that ability.”
SFU was sitting in a tie for 14th place, 17 strokes back, heading into the final 18 holes.
The Clan team earned the sixth and final berth to the Div. II championships, nipping Colorado Springs by two strokes and Colorado Christian by three.
“We knew it was going to be tough. There were a couple of sad faces after yesterday’s round. We came together on the putting green this morning and came up with a game plan to take it one shot at a time,” said Vigna in the release. “We figured with a solid round we would have a chance. We’re just really happy to be going to nationals.”
It is the first appearance for the second-year Clan golf program at the nationals.
Host St. Edwards University won the team competition with a combined 14-over-par.
Midwestern State’s Derek Oland won the individual honours, firing a four-under 212, including a final round 67.
The NCAA Div. II championship will be held on May 19 in Allendale, Michigan.
