SAN ANTONIO – The Wayland Baptist men's golf team started its spring schedule the same way it ended the fall schedule – with a win.
The Pioneers, led by a second straight second-place finish for
Sebastien Tremulot, successfully defended their team title and secured their third win of the season here Tuesday by claiming victory in the NAIA TPC San Antonio ShootOut.
The win was bittersweet for coach
Tom Harp and his team.
"It's nice to win, but to be honest we didn't play that well," Harp said.
After playing 36 holes Monday at the TPC Canyons Course, shooting rounds of 307 and a masterful 289, Wayland -- ranked No. 3 in the latest NAIA Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll – turned in a final round 313 Tuesday at the much-tougher TPC Oaks Course.
The Pioneers' 909 total was a healthy 13 shots in front of 11
th-ranked runner-up Texas Wesleyan (302-308-312) and 17 ahead of Our Lady of the Lake (300-310-316—926). In fourth place was fifth-ranked Morningside, Iowa (303-302-324—929) while No. 24 Grand View, Iowa (301-306-326—933) was fifth. Texas A&M-San Antonio (342-348-353—1,043) brought up the rear.
"We played good in round two, but the other two rounds we didn't play that well. Most of the guys feel disappointed," Harp said. "If want to be a championship team we have to be better than that, and we will be."
Tremulot, who finished second last year after a three-way playoff which also saw teammate
Sentanio Minnie settle for third, wound up second again. He held a one-shot lead after turning in rounds of 73 and 69 Monday but struggled to an 80 for a 6-over-par 222 total. That was six shots behind Kane Ybarra of OLLU, who won it at 73-70-73—216.
Harp felt for Tremulot.
"He was disappointed for not pulling out the win," the coach said. "Sebastien played great (Monday), but this was a tough course today and he got punished pretty hard. But Sebastien is talented, and he's going to win this year."
Minnie repeated his third-place showing from a year ago, shooting 77-71-76—224 and coming in two shots behind Treumulot. Newcomer
Jay Nathwani, a freshman playing both courses for the first time (Sunday's practice round was cancelled), tied for 13
th (79-73-83—235) while
Joshua Smedema (78-82-76—236) wound up 16
th after tying for the second-lowest round of the day Tuesday.
Jake Craft tied for 17
th (81-76-81—238).
"I want to say we're better than that, but at the same time we can't be delusional. You have to admit where you're at and get better," Harp said.
Next on the schedule is the Texas Wesleyan Invitational March 8 and 9 at Hawks Creek Golf Course, followed by the Battle at Primm in Nevada March 22 and 23.
"The two tournaments coming up should tell us a lot about where we stand against some of the top teams," Harp said. "The courses won't be as tough but we have to be sharper.
"We're OK. We'll go work hard the next couple of weeks. I really feel we'll be better. I've watched these guys qualifying in some tough conditions in recent weeks. I'm proud of the way they've worked so hard.
"I'm looking forward to us really playing some better golf."
