The NC State men’s golf team placed third in the Raleigh Regional at Lonnie Poole Golf Course this past Wednesday.
The team will move ahead to the NCAA Championships, a feat the team has not been able to achieve since 2011 and will be the 16th time in program history.
Over the course of three days the team shot 275, 277 and 279 for a total score of 831. The team made history by scoring the lowest three-round team score in program history for the NCAA Regionals.
After finishing eighth place overall in the ACC Championships, scoring 846, the Wolfpack cut down the team’s score by a whole 15 points this time around, a tremendous leap for placements.
The Wolfpack was able to prove its depth amongst the players. The ones who stepped up for the Pack during the ACC Championship were not necessarily the same for regionals.
Juniors Stephen Franken and Justin Hoodbith has strong finishes, sixth and eighth respectively. Franken had scored 206 with Hood close behind with a score of 207.
Last year, Franken tied for fifth place in the ACC Championship with a score or 212. Despite the drop in placement, Franken’s score has only gotten better.
During regionals, sophomore Benjamin Shipp placed third for the Pack after falling behind Texas senior Doug Ghim who birdied four of five holes.
Despite the close loss of first, Shipp’s three-round score of 201 was able to top the lowest 54-hole score individually in NC State program history.
The seasoned golfer, Franken, came through for the Pack again, tying for fifth place. While freshman Easton Paxton made way for 21st, marking a career-low round of 68. And Hood tied with fellow junior Harrison Rhoades for 57th.
The Wolfpack will tee off next Friday at Stillwater, Oklahoma for the NCAA Championship.
