Individual Champion Mirrors Father's Feat
4/23/2015 3:48:00 PM | Men's Golf
When J. T. Taylor tapped in his final putt on the 72nd hole of the Southland Conference men's golf Wednesday to clinch the team title for Sam Houston, he mirrored an achievement by his father as a Bearkat 33 years ago.
With a score of 70-72-71 – 213, the younger Taylor became the eighth Sam Houston golfer to win the Southland Conference individual medalist championship.
In 1982, his father Tommy Taylor won the Lone Star Conference individual championship with a 72-70-73 – 215 total score. Both father and son chalked up their league titles as seniors for Sam Houston State University.
Taylor's performance helped the Bearkat men earn their second consecutive Southland Conference men's golf championship and earn the league's automatic bid for the NCAA Regional Championships in May. Sam Houston edged McNeese State by two strokes on the challenging Dye Course at Stonebridge Country Club in McKinney.
“The golf course is one of the hardest we play all year,” J. T. Taylor said. “To play well here over three tough days is pretty much a dream come true. I'm honored, humbled and blessed to win.”
Sam Houston's route to the program's fourth conference team championship in 28 seasons in the Southland was not an easy one. Holding a six stroke lead after Monday's first round, the Kats endured a day of rain delays that saw the team play from eight in the morning until dark Tuesday.
McNeese State had overtaken the Kats on the last few holes and held a two-stroke margin over Sam Houston when play was halted.
“It was tough,” Taylor said. “We didn't know what the weather was going to do Wednesday. To get the third round in Wednesday was huge. We were two strokes back Tuesday night. If we had gotten rained out, McNeese would have won. But we took advantage of the extra round.”
The first four holes on the back nine proved pivotal for Sam Houston. Freshman Jake McCrory's holed an approach shot for an eagle two on the par four 10th hole. Then Taylor birdied holes 11, 12 and 13 in succession. Last year's Southland individual champion Zach Cabra birdied 13 as well and the Kats pulled back in front.
McNeese kept the pressure on but the Sam Houston men never trailed again.
“The final three holes were nerve-racking,” Taylor said. “But I stuck to my routine and trusted what I do best. We're so thankful to come out on top this week.”
Sam Houston now awaits the selection announcement Monday, May 4, at 9 a.m. on the Golf Channel to learn their next destination.
The Bearkats will find out where they will be heading during the selection show May 4 at 9 a.m. on the Golf Channel. The sites for the regional tournaments May 14-16 are Bremerton, Washington (University of Washington host), New Haven, Connecticut (Yale host), San Diego, California (San Diego host), Lubbock (Texas Tech host), Noblesville, Indiana (Ball State host) and Chapel Hill, North Carolina (North Carolina host).
The top five teams and top two individuals not on a qualifying team earn berths in the NCAA Men's Golf Championships May 29 through June 3 at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.
Last year, Sam Houston made its first ever NCAA Division I regional golf appearance at Auburn, Alabama. The Bearkats placed 11th in the team standings but were just five strokes behind the fifth qualifying team.
“We're really looking forward to getting back to the regionals,” head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “We've really built on last year's performance at the regional. We've drawn on that experience all year. We're a deeper team this year and coming with five shots from nationals has expanded our horizons.”
Kieschnick believes the intense competition with McNeese State in the final few holes of this week's Southland event will benefit his team.
“It was a fight. We had a six shot lead after the first round and then we lost it,” Kieschnick said. “Every one of our five guys fought hard to take it back. McNeese is a great team. It literally came down to the last hole. We needed someone to challenge us. This will help us so much going up against the outstanding competition we'll face at the NCAA regional tournament.”
Besides Taylor's first place finish, Sam Houston had three other players finish among the top 12 individuals with Cabra fifth (73-78-71 – 222) and McCrory (76-77-73 – 226) and Andrew Ertel (72-76-78 – 226) tied for 12th. Logan Boatner placed 22nd.
“It's mind-boggling how far our golf program has come in the past few years,” Taylor said. “Everyone on this team is dedicated and super hard-working. It pays off in times like this week. To come out here and win and being heading to the NCAA regional is awesome.”
