#2 Men's Golf 5/25/2012 7:11:00 PM

STARS SECURE EIGHTH NAIA MEN’S GOLF TITLE

OCU fired a round-four 295 to take its eight NAIA championship

OCU earned its eighth NAIA men's golf championship Friday at Creekside Golf Club.

SALEM, Ore. – Top-ranked Oklahoma City University shot 297-298-286-295-1,176 and won its eighth NAIA men's golf title Friday at Creekside Golf Club.
OCU, ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, began the final round in third place, four shots off the lead held by No. 2 Oklahoma Christian, and carded a round-four 295 on the par-72, 6,887-yard course to win the tournament championship. The Stars defeated runner-up Oklahoma Christian by three strokes and third-place British Columbia by 10 shots.
"As a coach, it was a stressful day," OCU coach Kyle Blaser said. "It was a rollercoaster ride of a day, but I'm just extremely proud of how the team fought back, and their will and resolve to get it in the hole was unbelievable. The last hole kicked our tail yesterday, but we got to it with the lead and they stepped up and made pars. That's what champions do."
Taylor Artman, of Norman, Okla., led the Stars with 73-74-71-74-292 and finished in a tie for eighth. The senior rolled in 14 birdies on the tournament and landed on the all-tournament team. Artman finished nine shot behind individual champion Carson Kallis of Victoria (British Columbia) and eight shots behind runner- up Nathan Anderson of Texas Wesleyan.
Clark Collier, a senior from Edmond, Okla., finished the tournament tied for 11th with 74-75-71-74-294. Collier carded three birdies on the round and finished 11 shots out of first place. Collier also made the all-tournament team.
Fellow senior Elliot Groves, of Winchester, Hampshire, England, shot 78-73-72-74-297 on the tournament and finished in a tie for 16th. Groves finished nine over par for the tournament and recorded his third highest finish of the season.
Michael Palmer, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, finished the tournament in a tie for 29th. Palmer carded 76-76-72-76-300 and rolled in 10 birdies.
Sophomore James Marchesani, of Rosebud, Victoria, Australia, shot a round-three 72 and round-four 73 to help the Stars to their eighth title. Marchesani carded 74-82-72-73-301 on the tournament.
It feels good to win it," Blaser said. "We've talked about peaking at the right time and being patient. They could have folded when they were 10 shots down after two rounds, but they fought back. Words can't describe how proud I am of this team."
Blaser earned 2012 NAIA coach of the year honors.
OCU has won NAIA men's golf titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and now, 2012.
In all sports, OCU has captured 46 total national championships and five this year. OCU picked up women's basketball, women's wrestling and two cheer championships earlier in the year. Five championships in one year breaks the previous school record of four set in 2001-02 and 2006-07.
Results

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Artman: 5' 10"; Senior

Clark Collier: 6' 0"; Senior

Elliot Groves: 5' 9"; Senior

James Marchesani: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Michael Palmer: 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Taylor Artman
: 5' 10"; Senior

Clark Collier
: 6' 0"; Senior

Elliot Groves
: 5' 9"; Senior

James Marchesani
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Michael Palmer
: 6' 1"; Junior