May 16, 2007

Malone Men’s Golf Team To Compete At NAIA National Championships

The Malone College men’s golf team, led by veteran head coach Ken Hyland, will compete at the 56th annual NAIA National Championships at the Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, Indiana May 22-25.  The Pioneers are ranked 13th in the latest NAIA national ratings this season and earned an automatic bid to the national event by winning the AMC/NAIA Region IX Championships at the Apple Valley Golf Course in Howard, Ohio May 3-4.
    
Malone pocketed its fourth straight AMC/Region title among a 12-team field, winning by seven strokes with a 54-hole score of 898 (301-298-299) over runner-up Tiffin University (905).  In addition to their four straight NAIA national tournament appearances, the Pioneers have qualified for 10 of the last 12 NAIA national events and earned an NAIA national championship in 2000.
 
In addition to this year’s AMC/Region team title, Malone freshman Ben Smith (Carrollton H.S.) captured individual medalist honors at the event by winning the first “A” tournament of his young college career.  He posted a total of 214 (74-69-71) to earn the Al Turner trophy as the tournament medalist.  Also, coach Hyland was named the AMC and NAIA Region IX Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year.
 
Also competing for Malone at the national event this year, in addition to Smith, will be Grant Gates (Sr., River Valley H.S.), who finished ninth at regionals with a 225 (74-76-75), Jordan Grubb (Sr., Lake H.S.), who tallied a 231 (75-80-76), Darren Phipps (Jr., Lake H.S.), who carded a 231 (78-76-77) and Scotty Jones (Sr., East Palestine H.S.), who posted a 236 (79-77-80). Smith and Gates were named to the All-Conference Team by virtue of their top ten finishes.  In addition, Michael Johnson (So., Lake H.S.) will serve as Malone’s alternate at this year’s NAIA national tournament.
  
At last year’s NAIA national event, Malone finished ninth among a 28-team field as Scotty Jones earned All-America honors.  This year’s event again has 28 teams with a 54-hole cut after the third of four days in which only the top 17 teams and the top 40 individuals will play on the final day.  In addition, Ben Smith will represent Malone in the Long Drive Contest which will be held during the practice round on Monday, May 21st.
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