College Men’s Golf News – Guilford Tabbed for NCAA Division III Championships Tournament

GUILFORD COLLEGE EARNS BID TO NCAA DIVISION III GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

GUILFORD’S BID: Guilford College’s men’s golf team earned an at-large bid to the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships. The full 42-team field was announced Monday and contains 32 automatic qualifiers with 10 at-large selections. Six competitors will play as individuals, rounding out the 216-man field. The national championships will be held May 14-17 at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Transylvania University serves as the tournament host.

The team and individual champions will be determined after 72 holes of play or the conclusion of the last fully completed round. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top-18 teams and top-six individuals not on one of those teams.

GUILFORD VS. THE 2019 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD: The Quakers met 23 of the other 41 teams in the field during the regular season and compiled a 45-26-2 record in those meetings. Guilford’s 2018-19 records versus the 23 teams are as follows: Carnegie Mellon (4-0-1), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (1-0), Concordia (Texas) (1-0), Emory (0-7), Hampden-Sydney (4-1), Hope (1-0), Huntingdon (2-6), Illinois Wesleyan (0-4), Methodist (2-3), New York University (1-0), North Carolina Wesleyan (5-0), Oglethorpe (3-1), Otterbein (3-0), Rosemont (1-0), St. John’s (Minn.) (3-0), St. John Fisher (1-0), St. Thomas (Minn.) (1-0), Southwestern (Texas) (1-1), Stevenson (1-0), Transylvania (3-0), Washington and Lee (5-2), Webster (1-0), Wittenberg (1-1-1).

GUILFORD IN THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Guilford received its 24th NCAA Championships bid in 28 years of NCAA membership and ninth since 2010. The Quakers won their second national title in four years in 2005 with a 25-stroke triumph over the University of Redlands at the Mission Inn Resort in Florida. Guilford captured the 2002 NCAA Championship with a six-stroke victory over Greensboro College at the Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska. The title marked the program’s first NCAA Division III crown in any sport.

The Quakers have three second-place NCAA finishes, including in 2017 when Guilford trailed Wittenberg University by two strokes after 72 holes. After leaving the NAIA ranks in 1991, the Quakers qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in seven consecutive years.

Guilford’s NCAA Championships history is listed below:

Year    Rd. 1   Rd. 2   Rd. 3   Rd. 4   Total    Finish/Teams
1992    319     304     316     302     1241     11/21
1993    322     328     316     306     1272     16/22
1994    327     323     311     316     1277     T17/23
1995    333     325     328              986*    19/23
1996    297     311     295     309     1212     8/23
1997    302     295     340     302     1239     T5/23
1998    305     303     295     306     1209     11/23
2000    304     320     303              927*    T11/23
2001    293     292     283     295     1163     2/23
2002    300     311     301     300     1212     1/23
2003    313     305     298     307     1223     17/23
2004    312     304     314     292     1222     12/23
2005    302     285     297     290     1174     1/23
2006    299     296     302     318     1215     5/23
2007    307     311     314     312     1244     T7/35
2010    303     297     295     283     1178     2/37
2011    295     298     299     299     1191     9/40
2012    300     295     306     306     1207     11/41
2013    307     305     m/c     m/c      612     T17/41
2014    294     309     m/c     m/c      603     T17/41
2015    294     297     303     301     1195     8/41
2017    300     293     296     293     1180     2/42
2018    283     295     298     298     1174     5/42

* – tournament shortened by weather
m/c – missed cut

GUILFORD IN THE POSTSEASON: As seen by their NCAA Championships experience, the Quakers are no strangers to postseason competition. Guilford ranked among the elite NAIA men’s golf programs during its affiliation with the organization and won the 1989 NAIA national championship.

Guilford golfers have qualified for national playoff competition 35 times in the last 43 years. The Quakers recorded top-six finishes in 10 NAIA National Tournaments from 1979-1990, including runner-up performances in 1985, 1986 and 1987. Guilford placed second in the 2017 NCAA Division III Championships by two shots to Wittenberg University. The Quakers were runners up at the 2010 Division III Championships by one stroke to Methodist University and second in the 2001 Championships by one stroke to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

GUILFORD’S LINEUP

Name (Class, Hometown)                  Rounds   Avg.     Low Round     Best Finish (Score), Tournament, Dates
Josh Hill (Sr., Superior, Colo.)        25       72.68     67           1st (67), Greene Turtle Invitational, 9/10
Louis Lambert (So., Charlotte, N.C.)    15       75.87     68           T2nd (140), O'Briant-Jensen Mem., 10/22-23
Jack Lee (So., Overland Park, Kan.)     18       74.50     70           T5th (70), Greene Turtle Invitational, 9/10
                                                                        5th (143), O'Briant-Jensen Mem., 10/22-23
                                                                        T5th (223), ODAC Championships, 4/28-30
Addison Manring (So., Stoneville, N.C.) 12       76.33     71           T8th (145), O'Briant-Jensen Mem., 10/22-23
James Mishoe (Jr., Cary, N.C.)           25      71.00     67           1st (214), ODAC Championships, 4/28-30

QUAKER NOTES: The Quakers are ranked sixth in Golfstat.com’s May 1 Division III Team Rankings with a 281-6 comparative record, including a 14-5 mark against top-25 clubs. Emory University is ranked first… Guilford’s 292.28 team stroke average stands second in school history, less than one stroke per round better than the current record of 292.19 set by last year’s unit… the Quakers are ranked sixth in the May 3 Bushnell/Golfweek Division III Coaches’ Poll.

LAST TIME OUT: Guilford finished second at the 12-team ODAC Championships April 28-30 at the Bryan Park Champions Course in Greensboro. Washington and Lee University overcame a nine-stroke deficit to the Quakers after 18 holes to win the 54-hole event with a three-day 870. The Generals shot six-under-par 282 in the final round to erase Guilford’s five-stroke, 36-hole lead. The Quakers shot 292-291-294-877 in their sixth top-three finish of the year. Guilford has placed sixth or higher in all 10 events this year.

Junior James Mishoe captured his first ODAC medalist honor in a one-hole playoff with Washington and Lee’ Brian Peccie, the defending NCAA Division III medalist. Mishoe became the Quakers’ 16th ODAC Tournament winner by shooting two-under 70-73-71-214. Guilford’s Josh Hill, the 2017 ODAC Tournament medalist, was one stroke off the lead in second place with a 74-68-73-215. He joined Mishoe and fifth-place finisher Jack Lee (71-78-74-223, T5th) on the all-tournament team. Guilford sophomore Addison Manring, the 2018 ODAC medalist, shot 77-74-77-224 and shared 13th place.

HEAD COACH ADAM CRAWFORD: Adam Crawford was named the Quakers’ head men’s golf coach in August 2018. He arrived after holding a similar position at Old Dominion Athletic Conference-rival Ferrum College. Crawford led the Panthers from 2010-18 and compiled a 474-416-6 record. Under his guidance, Ferrum rose more than 100 spots in the Golfstat.com NCAA Division III statistical rankings. The Panthers won seven tournaments in his tenure after collecting 11 in program’s prior 21 years.

Under Crawford’s tutelage, Ferrum produced two Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Americans, one GCAA All-America Scholar, one VaSID All-State honoree, and four All-USA South Athletic Conference performers, including the school’s first four-time honoree. His students earned five medalist honors in his seven seasons. Crawford also had 10 academic all-conference selections.

The 2017-18 year was Crawford’s finest coaching the Panthers. The team produced several statistical school records, including team stroke average; individual stroke average (Lance Keiser); 18-hole individual 64 (-8) and 36 hole-individual 132 (-12). Keiser set the individual marks and was named first-team all-conference, all-region, and an honorable mention All-American. He was one of six individuals selected to compete in the 2018 Division III Championships.

Crawford graduated magna cum laude from Ferrum in 2007 with a sport management degree. He lettered four years for the Panthers’ golf team, earned academic all-conference honors all four years, and earned a spot on the USA South’s 50th Anniversary Team.

Crawford holds a Class A membership from the Professional Golf Association (PGA) and completed its PGA PGM course in just two years. He is a member of the GCAA, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), and is registered at level one with Titlist Performance Institute.

Prior to joining Ferrum, Crawford was an assistant golf professional for the Auburn Hills Golf Club in Riner, Virginia, from 2007 to 2010.

Student Profiles
Louis Lambert (So., Charlotte, N.C.) – 75.87 stroke average in 15 rounds stands fifth on the team… has two subpar rounds… ranks 146th in the 2018-19 Golfstat.com Division III Player Rankings… has three top-16 finishes in seven events… two-time All-ODAC honoree (3rd Team in 2019, 2nd Team in 2018)… shared ODAC Golfer of the Week honors after a second-place finish at the O’Briant-Jensen Memorial (72-68-140) in October… shot a career-low 68 at the O’Briant-Jensen… placed ninth at Wynlakes Invitational… 2018 ODAC Rookie of the Year… his father, Chris Lambert ’85, played basketball at Guilford and was an NAIA Academic All-American.

NCAA Division III Championships Results: first appearance

Jack Lee (So., Overland Park, Kan.) – 74.50 average in 18 rounds ranks third on the team and eighth in the ODAC… ranks 70th in the 2018-19 Golfstat.com Division III Player Rankings… has two subpar rounds and two even-par rounds… fired a career-low 70 in the first round of the season to share fifth place at the Greene Turtle Invitational… also shot 70 last month at the Discover DeKalb Emory Invitational, which helped him share 12th place (219) in the 54-hole event… earned All-ODAC Tournament recognition with a fifth-place finish (71-78-74-223)… also placed fifth playing as an individual at the O’Briant Jensen-Memorial (71-72-143).

NCAA Division III Championships Results: first appearance

Josh Hill (Sr., Superior, Colo.) – 72.68 average in a team-high 25 rounds ranks second on the team, third among ODAC leaders, and fourth in school history… has eight subpar rounds and three even-par rounds… ranks 14th in the 2018-19 Golfstat.com Division III Player Rankings… has eight top-16 finishes, including three top-six performances… 2017-18 PING Third Team All-American… 2016-17 PING honorable mention All-American… three-time First Team All-ODAC honoree… claimed his third college medalist honor by winning the rain-shortened Greene Turtle Invitational September 10 in Front Royal, Virginia… shot 70 (-3) for the win… took third at the 2019 ODAC Championships by shooting one-under-par 215 over 54 holes… placed 26th at the 2016 Colorado Amateur.

NCAA Division III Championships Results: 2017 (294, 12th), 2018 (293, T18th).

Addison Manring (So., Stoneville, N.C.) – Averages 76.33 strokes in 12 rounds, which ranks seventh on the team and 20th in the ODAC… had one subpar round, a one-under 71 at the O’Briant-Jensen Memorial where he placed a season-high eighth with a 71-74-145… shared 13th place at the 2019 ODAC Championships with a 54-hole 228… shot 73-68-71-212 (-4) for his first college medalist honor at the 2018 ODAC Championships.

NCAA Division III Championships Results: 2018 (309, T79th).

James Mishoe (Jr., Cary, N.C.) – league-leading 71.00 stroke average in team-high 25 rounds ranks first in school history… ranked first in the 2018-19 Golfstat.com Division III Player Rankings for most of the spring… had 15 subpar rounds and three even-par rounds… won the ODAC Championship in a one-hole playoff over defending Division III medalist Brian Peccie of Washington and Lee… shot 70-73-71-214 (-2) for his second career medalist honor… 2018-19 ODAC Golfer of the Year… four-time ODAC Player of the Week in 2018-19… two-time First Team All-ODAC… had Guilford’s top result in nine of 10 events… finished sixth or higher in all 10 events with four second-place finishes… set Guilford’s single-season stroke average record (72.43) in 14 rounds last season… transferred to Guilford in January 2018… played the 2015-16 season at NCAA Division I University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

NCAA Division III Championships Results: 2018 (294, T24).