Arkansas Wins Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship

Tournament News

Bradenton, Fla. – Arkansas defeated Duke, 3.5-1.5 to claim the team title at the Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

Top-seeded Arkansas took an early lead when Sebastian Cappelen - who posted a 4-0 record for the week - downed Brinson Paolini 4 and 3. Duke’s Julian Suri would even the team score with a 5 and 3 win over Ethan Tracy. The Razorbacks would reclaim the lead with Austin Cook's 3 and 1 defeat of Austin Cody. When Arkansas’ Thomas Sorensen birdied the 18th hole of his match to pull even with Tim Gornik and Duke’s Yaroslav Merkulov and Kolton Crawford were all square thru 18 both matches went to extra holes. In both matches third playoff hole Crawford recorded a birdie to win in 21 holes and clinch the team championship for Arkansas. Crawford and Gornik’s match was considered halved.

“We got of to a little bit of a slow start but were able to get a couple of matches up early,” said Arkansas Coach Brad McMakin. “Sebastian (Cappelen) and Austin (Cook) were in pretty good shape, 4-up and 3-up, so I felt good there. We had a couple of freshmen (Crawford and Sorensen) in the lineup trying to close this thing out so we were a little nervous but they did a great job. It was great for them. This tournament is designed to prepare kids for the future and they will grow leaps and bounds from this experience.”

“Golf is so much confidence,” continued McMakin. “Today the match was close and even in the first round against Washington State we won on the last hole. Today could have gone either way. Winning five tournaments this year helps them coming down the stretch. They’re used to being in the match, being in the tournament, helps them grind it out, save strokes, make a birdie.”

In other results from the final round, California downed Chattanooga for third place, Indiana beat East Carolina for fifth and Oklahoma State defeated Tennessee in the seventh-place match. Liberty, Arizona State, UNCW and Kennesaw State all won their matches in the consolation bracket.

Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship
Championship Round Results
March 20

Championship Match
(1) Arkansas def. (3) Duke, 3.5-1.5

Third-Place Match
(2) California def. (5) Chattanooga, 3-2

Fifth-Place Match
(6) Indiana def. (9) East Carolina, 3.5-1.5

Seventh-Place Match
(4) Oklahoma State def. (10) Tennessee, 4-1

Ninth-Place Match
(7) Liberty def. (8) Iowa, 4-1

11th-Place Match
(14) Arizona State def. (13) Colorado State, 3.5-1.5

13th-Place Match
(15) UNCW def. (16) Washington State, 3.5-1.5

15th-Place Match
(11) Kennesaw State def. (12) South Florida, 3.5-1.5

Individual Match Results
Championship Match
(1) Arkansas def. (3) Duke, 3.5-1.5
Julian Suri, Duke def. Ethan Tracy, Ark, 5 and 3
Sebastian Cappelen, Ark def. Brinson Paolini, Duke, 4 and 3
Austin Cook, Ark def. Austin Cody, Duke, 3 and 1
Kolton Crawford, Ark def. Yaroslav Merkulov, Duke, 21 holes
Thomas Sorensen, Ark halved Tim Gornik, Duke,

Third-Place Match
(2) California def. (5) Chattanooga, 3-2
Stephan Jaeger, Chatt def. Max Homa, Cal, 2 and 1
Steven Fox, Chatt def. Michael Kim, Cal, 1-up
Joel Stalter, Cal def. Benjamin Weilguni, Chatt, 3 and 1
Brandon Hagy, Cal def. Liam Johnston, Chatt, 4 and 2
Keelan Kilpatrick, Cal def. Chris Robb, Chatt, 3 and 1

Fifth-Place Match
(6) Indiana def. (9) East Carolina, 3.5-1.5
Harold Varner, ECU def. Chase Wright, IU, 1-up
David Mills, IU halved Adam Stephenson, ECU
Brant Peaper, IU def. David Watkins, ECU, 3 and 2
Corey Ziedonis, IU def. Ryan Eibner, ECU, 2 and 1
David Erdy, IU def. Eric Brady, ECU, 4 and 3

Seventh-Place Match
(4) Oklahoma State def. (10) Tennessee, 4-1
Talor Gooch, OSU def. Garrick Porteous, UT, 2 and 1
Sean Einhaus, OSU def. Jay Vandeventer, UT, 1-up
Brad Gehl, OSU def. Brandon Rodgers, UT, 3 and 2
Rick Lamb, UT def. Patrick Winther, OSU, 4 and 2
Tanner Kesterson, OSU def. Marshall Talkington, UT, 5 and 4

Ninth-Place Match
(7) Liberty def. (8) Iowa, 4-1
Robert Karlsson, Liberty def. Barrett Kelpin, Iowa, 3 and 2
Ian McConnell, Liberty def. Steven Ihm, Iowa, 3 and 1
Chase Marinell, Liberty halved Chris Brant, Iowa
Max McKay, Liberty def. Ian Vandersee, Iowa, 4 and 2
Niklas Lindstrom, Liberty halved Brian Bullington, Iowa

11th-Place Match
(14) Arizona State def. (13) Colorado State, 3.5-1.5
Zahkai Brown, CSU def. Spencer Fletcher, ASU, 5 and 4
Mathias Schjoelberg, ASU def. Kirby Pettitt, CSU, 4 and 3
Stan Gautier, ASU halved Cameron Harrell
Austin Quick, ASU def. Mike Wuertz, CSU, 1-up
Cameron Palmer, ASU def. Parker Edens, CSU, 3 and 1

13th-Place Match
(15) UNCW def. (16) Washington State, 3.5-1.5
Thomas Bass, UNCW halved Sang Lee, WSU
Payne McLeod, UNCW def. Trent Sanders, WSU, 1-up
Hank Frame, WSU def. Ryan Nagy, UNCW, 2-up
Stefan Brewer, UNCW def. Michael Anderson, WSU, 6 and 5
Patrick Sawrey, UNCW def. Kent Hagen, WSU, 2-up

15th-Place Match
(11) Kennesaw State def. (12) South Florida, 3.5-1.5
Matt Nagy, KSU def. Trey Valentine, USF, 19 holes
Jeff Karlsson, KSU def. Trey Valentine, USF, forfeit
Jimmy Beck, KSU def. Devin Hernandez, USF, 2 and 1
Ben Greene, KSU halved Rick Kittelstad, USF
Bodi Karsono, USF def. Peder Hermansson, KSU, 1-up