MCKINNEY, Texas -- Sam Houston State held off a late charge from Southeastern Louisiana on the last 18 holes to claim the 2014 Southland Conference championship at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.
The Bearkats had four golfers place in the top 20 to claim their first league title since 1994. Sam Houston shot an 8-over par 296 to win by six strokes over Southeastern to give the Sam Houston its third overall conference championship. The win gives the Bearkats the league’s automatic berth into one of six NCAA regionals. It will be the first NCAA Division I postseason trip for the Sam Houston program.
On Wednesday, Sam Houston junior Zach Cabra carded an even-under par 72 to give him a three-round total of 6-over par (69-69-72–210) to help him lay claim to the individual medalist honors. Cabra, who trailed by two shots entering the final round, became the seventh Bearkat to win medalist honors and first since Scott Kelly in 2008.
Also placing in the top 20 for Sam Houston were senior Albert Miner, who tied for third at 2-over par (71-73-74–218), junior Logan Boatner, who tied for 10th at 6-over par (73-76-73–222) and freshman Klien Klotz, who tied for 18th at 12-over par (77-74-77–228).
Southeastern Louisiana trailed by 13 strokes entering the day, and shot a tournament-best 1-over par 289 as a team to finish one place short of defending its tournament title. The Lions, who shot 884 (297-298-289) as a team, were led by a trio of players who place in the top 10. Sophomore Eamon Bradley tied for third (73-70-75–218) followed by freshman Christopher Carstensen in sixth (74-76-70–220) and junior Grady Brame in a tie for seventh (72-75-74–221).
Houston Baptist junior Preston Stanley rounds out the top five with his fifth-place finish at 3-over par 219 (73-70-75).
