College Men’s Golf Results – Guilford Dips to 11th at NCAA Division III Championships

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. (5/17/12) — Guilford College shot 306 and slipped to 11th place after Thursday’s third round of the 41-team NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships at the Mission Inn Resort. The Quakers, who started the day in a share of third place in the 41-team field, fell 34 strokes behind third-ranked Oglethorpe University (285-292-290-867). The Stormy Petrels shot the day’s low round and opened a 16-shot edge over second-place Methodist University (291-300-292-883). Nine different teams, including Guilford (300-296-306-901), are within nine strokes of third-place Transylvania University (308-288-296-892).

Oglethorpe, which has led after all three rounds, continued its dominance on the par-72, 6,926-yard El Campeon Course Thursday. The Stormy Petrels have three students among the top-12 individuals in the 210-man field, including leader Anthony Maccaglia and second-place Hayden Jones. Maccaglia, a freshman, started the day with a three-stroke lead over his sophomore teammate and two others and shot four-under 68 Thursday, matching his own low round of the tournament. With a 68-71-68-207, he enters Friday’s fourth and final round with a seven-shot lead over Jones (71-71-72-214). Previous medalist and last year’s runner-up, Tain Lee of Claremont Mudd Scripps Colleges, showed why he is a three-time All-America by posting a third-round 71 to sit in third place at 1-under for the week.

Guilford junior Noah Ratner (Asheville, N.C./Asheville) had the Quakers’ low round for the second straight day with an even-par 72. The two-time defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference Player of the Year had two birdies on the back nine after making the turn at one-over par. He climbed 21 places on the individual leaderboard into a share of 12th place at 78-71-72-221.

Quakers’ senior Dusty Roberts (Reidsville, N.C./Rockingham County) and freshman Mitch Robinette (Charlotte, N.C./Grace Academy) both shot 77 Thursday. Roberts was two-over through 16 holes, but faltered with a bogey-double bogey on 17 and 18. Robinette, who started the day in 17th place after two very consistent rounds, hit a snag with a triple bogey on the par-four fourth. He recovered to play the rest of his round at one-over par and shares 28th place at 74-73-77-224.

Guilford freshman Drew Thompson (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) scored for the third straight round with an 80 that included three birdies. Classmate Nick Shedd (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette) started the day with a birdie and made the turn at two-over, but finished with an 82.

The championship concludes with Friday’s fourth and final round. Friday’s action will begin at 7:40 a.m. with the lead groups going off at 9:00 a.m. The Quakers are scheduled to tee off the 10th hole at 8:30 a.m. with Greensboro College and the University of La Verne.

Guilford is ranked fifth in the May 21 Golf World/NIKE Division III Coaches’ Poll and ninth in the latest Golfstat.com Division III Head-to-Head Ratings. The Quakers are after their third national title in 11 years after winning the 2005 and 2002 NCAA titles.