(Prescott, AZ) The Park University Gilbert men’s golf team finished in a tie for first place at the ERAU Invitational today, but was beaten by one stroke in a 10-man, one hole playoff to lose to the host Eagles. Noah Blaickner becomes the second Buccaneer to win medalist honors as he won the individual title by three strokes.
The Buccaneers led by as many as eight strokes in the second round but found themselves tied at the end of regulation in cold and blustery conditions on the Antelope Hills course. Playing through snowflakes, the Eagles and Buccaneers played a 10-man, one hole playoff. All 10 players teed off at once from the same hole and the combined scored on the hole would determine the winner. ERAU was able to win by a stroke to take the team title.
Individually, Blaickner, a sophomore from Maria Alm, Salzburg, Austria won his first collegiate tournament, shooting a final round 71 to bypass teammate Eli Cruzan who was leading after round one when he shot a 71. Cruzan, who won the medalist honors earlier in the year at the ERAU fall tournament, finished in second place after a final round 77. Blaickner was on the opposite end of the spectrum earlier this season as he held the lead after the first round of the Park Gilbert Los Colinas Championship but faltered in the second round.
Riley Wortman made it three top-10 finishes for the team with an eighth-place finish. Martin Clance finished just outside the top-10 with an 11th-place finish and Jax Sisson placed 13th.
The Buccaneers led the field in par 4 scoring (4.21) and birdies (26) over the two-day tournament. They also tied for the lead in pars made. Individually, Blaickner led in par 4 and 5 scoring, while Wortman led in par 3 scoring. Blaickner (9) and Cruzan (6) led the field in birdies.
The Bucs now look ahead to the California Pacific Conference Championships at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura, Calif., April 15-17. Embry Riddle has dominated this tournament for the last few years, but the Buccaneers have shown they can stay with the top dog and will look to unseat the defending champion.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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