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Bengtson, Youmans share medalist honors; Hawks 3rd at SSAC
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Shorter University's Arvid Bengtson and Matt Youmans shared medalist honors to lead the 9th-ranked Hawks to a third place finish at the 2011 Southern States Athletic Conference Championships at the Green Isle Country Club in Columbus, Ga.
Bengtson and Youmans were the only players to finish under par in the three-day tournament -- both finished four-under (212) for the championship -- and nearly led Shorter to an improbable comeback in Wednesday's third round.
William Carey led wire-to-wire to claim the team championship with a three-day team total of 870. Lee University (877), ranked 15th in the country, placed second, seven strokes behind the Crusaders, and the Hawks posted an 889 to finish 19 strokes back of William Carey.
Bengtson and Youmans were outstanding throughout the tournament, never shooting over par and coupling a pair of 70s with one round of even par 72.
Bengtson recorded his 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday after an even par 72 in Monday's opening round. The Swede, who placed 5th overall at the 2010 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship on his way to NAIA and PING All-America honors, continued his dominance of the SSAC with the five stroke victory over William Carey's duo of Corey Ward and Nic Ishee.
Youmans gave Shorter a pair of players at two-under on Wednesday by closing out with a 70. His consistency kept Shorter in the hunt for the conference championship until the very end.
Ethan Lambert finished in a tie for 19th while Tyler Steptoe and Winston Gibbs placed 34th and 37th, respectively.
Shorter will now wait and see if it earns a bid into the 2011 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. The Hawks' top 10 ranking and consistency throughout the season should warrant a trip to the national tournament.
